Springfield takes on BFA-Fairfax for state crown

The Cosmos are looking for one more day of magic. No. 3 Springfield (14-5) takes on No. 1 Fairfax (17-0) today at Poultney for the VPA Division 2 softball championship.
Related story: Area teams chase crowns
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VPA D-2 Softball Springfield takes on BFA-Fairfax for state crown Cosmos look to knock off undefeated foe By Jason Orfao | Jun 13, 2015 Photo by: File Springfield senior Chelsea McAllister connects for a game-tying RBI single in the seventh inning on Thursday during the Cosmos' semifinal win. Springfield needed a two-out rally and extra innings to reach title game. The Cosmos are looking for one more day of magic. No. 3 Springfield (14-5) takes on No. 1 Fairfax (17-0) on Saturday at Poultney for the VPA Division 2 softball championship. An unblemished record might seem daunting, but history has proven records don’t mean much in one-game, winner-take-all scenario. “We know that Fairfax is undefeated, but so were the Patriots when they played the Giants,” said Springfield head coach Andy Bladyka, who is plenty familiar with the Super Bowl XLII upset thanks to New York fan and assistant coach Mike Langdon. “He keeps reminding me.” Springfield has played the tougher schedule and is about as battle-tested as a team can be, prevailing in six of seven one-run games this season. The Cosmos will look to slow down the Bullets’ dynamic duo. Senior pitcher Kayla Mathieu is the reigning Vermont Gatorade Player of the Year and catcher Kayla Nester will join her on the softball team at Plymouth State University next season. “They’re seniors that are clearly the key to their team. Just like (Thursday), we need to find a way to get the ball in play. She’s going to get some strikeouts,” said Bladyka. “We’ll hope for a low-scoring, close game and hope that we can find a little more magic.” Springfield boasts a stellar pitcher in junior Jade Twombly, along with a deep team equipped with players capable of contributing from anywhere in the lineup. The Cosmos tied Randolph in the seventh inning and won it in the ninth. Both frames began with the 8-9-1 spots in the lineup. “There aren’t many teams that have such a complete team as we’ve had this year,” said Bladyka. “They’ve all had critical roles in winning games. That could be an advantage in the long run. Everyone in our lineup knows they can be the key player in the right situation.” Despite the depth from Springfield, the Bullets will enter Poultney as the favorites. But the Cosmos are just fine with that. “I don’t mind being in a position where we’re the underdogs and they’re undefeated,” said Bladyka. “Our kids can stay loose and have that nothing-to-lose approach.”