Slow start costs Rebs in loss to Cosmos

Springfield took advantage of a defensive nightmare in the first inning for Leland & Gray and went on to an 8-0 win over the Rebels in a Marble Valley League game Thursday afternoon at Bill Robinson Field.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150417/SPORTS02/704179899

Published April 17, 2015 in the Rutland Herald Slow start costs Rebs in loss to Cosmos By POODY WALSH Correspondent SPRINGFIELD — Springfield took advantage of a defensive nightmare in the first inning for Leland & Gray and went on to an 8-0 win over the Rebels in a Marble Valley League game Thursday afternoon at Bill Robinson Field. The Cosmos had just two hits in the first inning, but there were six Leland & Gray errors and the six runs were just too much for the Rebels to overcome. Leland & Gray hurler Keltsey Rushton tossed 40 pitches in the first inning and 13 more in the second when the Cosmos scored twice more, but did not give up a hit and threw just 45 pitches over the final four innings. The defense also perked up and made just one error after the second inning. “I wondered what team is this?” said Leland & Gray coach Tammy Claussen as she talked about the first two innings. “I knew we could play better than that and we did.” However, the deciding factor in the day may have been the pitching of Springfield’s Jade Twombly, who has now pitched 14 innings (15-0 win over Twin Valley on Tuesday) without giving up a run. She was touched for four hits and walked two in throwing 92 pitches. She fanned 10 including the side in the first and third innings. “She pitched well again,” said Springfield coach Andy Bladyka, “and we took advantage of the opportunities and we were solid on defense.” Springfield has made just two errors in two games. While it was the second game for Springfield it was the opener for the Rebels who were supposed to play this game at home, but their field is not ready. Even so, Claussen thought her team was perhaps ready after playing well in an 8-7 preseason loss to Brattleboro. “I know we didn’t hit much today, but we’re a team that can hit and we can field,” said Claussen. “I think we showed we can play defense after the first inning.” But in that first inning after one out, six straight Springfield batters reached on one hit and five errors when it was all over Springfield had scored six times on just two hits. Rushton gave up another hit in the second inning as Springfield scored twice more, one coming on a wild pitch and another on an infield out. Rebel shortstop Jordan Gouger, who can really play the position, was charged with two errors in the first inning, but came back to make two sterling plays on hard-hit balls in the third, one on a diving play on a ball to her left that she had to hop up and throw to first for the out. Claussen, who is confident that her defense is fine, thinks the hitting will also come around. “It’s got to do with confidence,” she said. The Rebels had four hits, two from Emily Thibault. Springfield’s Chelsea McAllister, who had two hits in the win over Twin Valley, had two more hits Thursday. Leland & Gray’s best chance to score came in the sixth when Gouger and Thibault singled with one out.