Springfield cruises to win over Twin Valley in opener

After graduating six starters off last season’s team, Springfield softball coach Andy Bladyka wasn’t sure what to expect out of his club in its debut on Tuesday at Bill Robinson Field.

Related story: Springfield’s Twombly impresses in debut: 15-0

http://eagletimes.villagesoup.com/p/springfield-cruises-to-win-over-twin-valley-in-opener/1332920

Springfield cruises to win over Twin Valley in opener Twombly strikes out 11, twirls 2-hit gem By Jason Orfao | Apr 15, 2015 Photo by: Jason Orfao Springfield's Jade Twombly delivers a pitch on Tuesday during the Cosmos' 15-0 win over Twin Valley at Bill Robinson Field. SPRINGFIELD — After graduating six starters off last season’s team, Springfield softball coach Andy Bladyka wasn’t sure what to expect out of his club in its debut on Tuesday at Bill Robinson Field. The question marks quickly turned into exclamation points. The Cosmos scored at least two runs in every inning, Jade Twombly struck out 11 in a two-hit shutout and Springfield rolled to a 15-0 victory over Twin Valley in five innings. It was a good first step for Bladyka and the new-look Cosmos. “Not only did I graduate six starters, but five of them had been on varsity for four years. It’s a big turnover year,” Bladyka explained. “I had no idea what was going to happen today with all the new players we have in place. So far, so good.” Cassidy Otis and Lina Geyer drove in three runs apiece for Springfield, while Chelsea McAllister went 2-for-3 and scored four runs, including the game-ending tally in the bottom of the fifth. Springfield took control early with a pair of runs in the first. Corrina Nichols reached on a catcher’s interference, before a McAllister single was followed by an RBI base knock from Otis to plate Nichols. McAllister came around to score on a wild pitch. The Cosmos batted around in the second and third innings. Geyer provided a key two-RBI single in the second, which was followed by an RBI hit from Maygan Daly. Geyer also suppiled an RBI single in the third frame. Springfield was patient at the plate and worked 14 walks on the day. The run support was more than enough for Twombly, who rarely saw trouble. The junior escaped an early jam in the first inning with a grounder to shortstop Brooke Willey and after allowing consecutive runners on to lead off the fourth, she retired the next six batters — including the final five by strikeout. Twombly consistently pounded the zone and fanned at least two Twin Valley batters in each inning. Not bad for her first varsity start. “I felt really nervous, but I knew we were going to do good. It’s great to have my team behind me,” said Twombly. “I’m just trying to throw strikes, make it easy on my team and work on my hitting. The confidence boosts a lot when we win like this.” Bladyka was pleased with the performance, particularly with her ability to remain focused between innings and maintain the dominance as the game wore on. “What I really liked was that after a couple of long offensive innings, she came back and threw the ball really hard,” said Bladyka. “I thought she increased her velocity a little in the fourth and fifth, which was really good to see. “Jade has waited a long time for her turn and it’s here now,” he added. “She has two years to be the one in the circle.” Another encouraging performance came from the other end of the battery, as Daly made her debut behind the plate. “That was Maygan’s first varsity game as a catcher. She’s a senior, but she’s played two years in the outfield. We didn’t have many balls hit the backstop today,” said Bladyka. “She did a nice job giving targets. Jade doesn’t just throw it down the middle. She hits spots and they work together really well. It really pleased me today watching the two of them work the corners.” Colton Butler took the loss for Twin Valley after surrendering nine runs — three earned — in 2 1-3 innings of work. Christina Moore pitched the final 2 1-3, before McAllister crossed the plate to end it with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. Butler and Moore were also responsible for the only hits off Twombly. The 3-4-5 hitters in the lineup — McAllister, Otis and Geyer — paced the Springfield offensive attack, going a combined 7-for-9 with seven runs scored and seven RBIs. Willey and Nichols set the table and each crossed the plate three times. “We did what we had to do. We had some good, hard swings,” said Bladyka. “It’s great to get the first game by a score like this. I got everybody in and it’s a feel-good game for the kids.” Springfield hosts Leland & Gray on Thursday at 4 p.m. Box Score SPRINGFIELD 15, TWIN VALLEY 0, 5 INNINGS TWIN VALLEY (0-1) — AB-R-H-RBI: Kaylea Niles ss 3-0-0-0, Colton Butler p-1b 2-0-1-0, Christina Moore 1b-p 2-0-1-0, Kassidy Walkowiak lf 0-0-0-0, Hailey Howe 3b 2-0-0-0, Karlee Walkowiak c 1-0-0-0, Jordan Bolognani c 1-0-0-0, Cassie Bratton rf 2-0-0-0, Callie Dix cr-rf 0-0-0-0, Natalie Herrick cf 2-0-0-0, Sam Morse 2b 1-0-0-0, Grace Russell ph 1-0-0-0. Totals 17-0-2-0. SPRINGFIELD (1-0) — AB-R-H-RBI: Brooke Willey ss 3-3-1-0, Corrina Nichols 2b 2-3-0-0, Madee Stagner ph 1-0-0-0, Chelsea McAllister 3b 3-4-2-1, Cassidy Otis 1b 3-3-3-3, Lina Geyer rf 3-0-2-3, Maygan Daly c 3-0-1-0, Jade Twombly p 1-0-0-1, Kayla Quimby lf 1-0-0-0, Alyssa Lucius cr-ph 1-0-0-0, Calista Polidor cf 3-1-0-0, Aunna Parker ph 0-1-0-0. Totals 24-15-9-8. Twin Valley 000 00—0 2 3 Springfield 254 22—15 9 1 IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO: TV — Colton Butler LP 21/3-4-9-3-6-4, Christina Moore 21/3-5-6-8-2. S — Jade Twombly WP 5-2-0-0-1-11. Published April 15, 2015 in the Rutland Herald Springfield’s Twombly impresses in debut: 15-0 By POODY WALSH Correspondent SPRINGFIELD — Springfield softball coach Andy Bladyka always felt that Jade Twombly had potential as a pitcher, but the junior was down on the depth chart a bit because Heather Sanborn and Sarah Locke were a older and experienced. But this year the team is hers as she has been put into the spotlight and seems to like it as she tossed a two-hitter as Springfield opened the season with a 15-0 mercy rule win over Twin Valley Tuesday at Bill Robinson Field. “She really threw the ball well,” said Bladyka of his pitcher who had 11 strikeouts with just one walk. “What I really liked was the way she came back out strong after a couple of long innings. She was hitting the corners.” It’s kind of an unknown season for Springfield which graduated six senior starters, four of which were four-year starters. “We’re going to be a work in progress for awhile,” added Bladyka. Twin Valley probably has a good reason for a less than stellar outing as coach Aaron Wood says his field is still unplayable. “We’ll get better. We’ve just got to get outside more,” he said. The game was called after Springfield scored its 15th run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Twin Valley went through two pitchers with Colton Butler starting and Sam Moore coming on in the third. Both pitchers had trouble throwing strikes as their were 12 bases on balls and two hit batsmen. Before the season began Bladyka was high of the offensive potential of Cassidy Otis and she made her coach looked good as she was 3 for 3 with three runs batted in. Chelsea McAllister and Lena Geyer each had two hits. Springfield scored in all five innings with five in the second and four in the third being the big innings. While Springfield scored four runs on wild pitches, Twombly was around the plate all game and Bladyka thought that the catching of Meghan Daly was a factor. “This was her first game catching after moving in from the field last year,” said Bladyka. Butler and Moore had the two Twin Valley hits. Butler had two good at bats, not only singling in the first, but lining out to second in the third. Springfield is home again Thursday against Leland and Gray while Twin Valley will be at Bellows Falls in another Thursday game.