Chieftains rout error-prone Cosmos

Springfield pitchers walked 15, hit three and the defense made eight errors as the Cosmos took a 21-4 shellacking from Green Mountain Tuesday in a Marble Valley League game at Birsky-Wyman Field.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150422/SPORTS02/704229857

Published April 22, 2015 in the Rutland Herald Chieftains rout error-prone Cosmos By POODY WALSH Correspondent SPRINGFIELD — Springfield pitchers walked 15, hit three and the defense made eight errors as the Cosmos took a 21-4 shellacking from Green Mountain Tuesday in a Marble Valley League game at Birsky-Wyman Field. It was the season opener for the Cosmos while the Chieftains, after splitting a Saturday doubleheader with Leland &Gray, are 2-1. Before the season began new Springfield coach Rick Saypack knew that for the team to have any success it would have to be strong fundamentally and Tuesday’s effort leaves much room for improvement. Springfield has been hampered by the weather and a slow-drying field getting onto the Riverside facility for just the third time. “We’re a good gym team,” said Saypack. “Now we have to learn to play outside.” As ineffective as the Cosmos were the Chiefs were pretty sharp, especially on defense where they made just one error. Green Mountain also got a steady performance from Jon Little on the hill as he hurled five-hit ball over five innings. Robert Hazeltine hurled a clean sixth inning after which the game was stopped by the 15-run mercy rule. “We played pretty well in all facets of the game,” said Green Mountain coach Logan Little, who is also a first-year head coach. “All our pitchers are sophomores and all we ask them is to command the strike zone,” said coach Little. Jon Little threw 90 pitches in his five innings and began losing the strike zone late in his start and ended up with five bases on balls. Ed Shambo started on the mound for Springfield and while he had trouble locating the strike zone his defense didn’t help much. “He should have sued his defense for non-support,” said Saypack. In the eight Springfield errors, three were dropped fly balls. Shambo went two and two-third innings throwing 85 pitches. He only gave up three hits, but he walked nine. Green Mountain scored in five of the six innings including six runs in the third and fifth innings and five in the sixth. The biggest blow of the day was a three-run triple from Joe Epler in the sixth. Michael Kollman relieved Shambo in the third and finished up. Josh Woods and Kyle Cyr each had two hits for the Chiefs while Shambo and Tanner Shumski had two apiece for Springfield, which goes to MSJ on Saturday. Green Mountain has a week off before hosting Poultney next Tuesday. llars.