Cosmos blank Windsor in senior game

Springfield is seeking a home game in the first round of the VPA Division 2 softball playoffs. Windsor is looking to take a little momentum into the Division 3 tournament.

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2017-05-27 / Sports Cosmos blank Windsor in senior game «» View full-size Springfield seniors Lina Geyer (left) and Cassidy Otis were recognized before Friday's game with Windsor. — TIM TAYLOR http://www.eagletimes.com/sites/www.eagletimes.com/files/imagecache/full/SB-SprSrs.jpg http://www.eagletimes.com/sites/www.eagletimes.com/files/imagecache/full/SB-Rugg.jpghttp://www.eagletimes.com/sites/www.eagletimes.com/files/imagecache/full/SB-Levings.jpg By TIM TAYLOR sports@eagletimes.com SPRINGFIELD — Springfield is seeking a home game in the first round of the VPA Division 2 softball playoffs. Windsor is looking to take a little momentum into the Division 3 tournament. The Cosmos would prevail 6-1 in Friday night's senior game honoring Lina Geyer and Cassidy Otis, but the Yellow Jackets scrapped the entire seven innings. Springfield coach Andy Bladyka knew the Yellow Jackets wouldn't be a pushover, regardless of their record or their youth. “I knew they've improved. I know they had a really tight game with Otter Valley recently. They beat Mill River,” he said. “Believe me, we spent a couple days cautioning our kids that we need to come out and play the game well, that they weren't going to be a pushover. They've improved a lot.” Each team would get a hit in the first inning — Erin Wierzbicki for the Jacks and Hailey Rabtoy for the host — but neither team could capitalize. Had it not been for a couple of second inning errors and fourth inning mental mistakes, and the fact Windsor couldn't get its bats going, the final outcome might have been closer, maybe even different. “We had a couple little mistakes when they scored three, we had a mistake when they scored two,” said Windsor coach Phil Hathorn. “If we could play perfect ball, which a lot of teams can't, we could've got out of those two innings with no runs scored.” “We got the three early,” Bladyka said. “We manufactured a little bit with some bunting and running and scratched a few hits through the infield, then we started hitting a little harder. Up and down the line-up, a lot of people contributed.” Unfortunately for the visitors, they had no answer for Springfield pitcher Hannah Crosby. The sophomore would strike out 13 batters on the night. She would also walk 10. “We left the bases loaded three times that I can remember,” Hathorn said. “We didn't get a big hit there. I had a couple people I wanted up with the bases loaded. We just didn't make contact.” Those free passes loaded the bases for Windsor in the third and fourth, and two more walks helped the Jacks fill the bags in the sixth, but they failed to take advantage. Crosby retired five batters by strikeout in those same innings and the other four outs were ground balls. “Hannah hung in there,” Bladyka said. “Again, she gets into her little rough patches where she loses her fundamentals a little bit, but boy when she's on she throws hard. She fights through it. She's a tough kid.” “Hannah threw hard,” said Hathorn. “She's a tough pitcher to hit. She got a little bit out of her groove. We got selective.” Windsor's Jasmine Frazer reached on a dropped third strike in the second, but failed to advance as Crosby retired the side. After two innings she already had four Ks in the book. The Yellow Jacket defense unraveled a bit in the bottom of the second as Julianna Albero-Levings reached on an error, stole second and went to third on a ground out to first. Laura Wentworth laid down a bunt single and stole second, and Jenna Veysey hit into a fielder's choice. Windsor tried to go home with the ball but Albero-Levings beat the throw and Wentworth went to third. After Veysey stole second, the Jacks committed another error on a ball off the bat of Ashley Chamberlin and Wentworth and Veysey scored to give the Cosmos a 3-0 lead. Wentworth would walk to lead off the bottom of the fourth and Geyer would get hit by a pitch and both would score to make it 5-0. Windsor looked to get on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth when Frazer doubled to center field with two down, but Crosby fanned the next batter. Albero-Levings scored the Cosmos' final run. After reaching on a fielder's choice, she would advance on Madee Stagner's double to right center and score on a fielder's choice off Wentworth's bat. Wentworth would reach safely on the play, but with two runners in scoring position, Olivia Rockwood struck out the next two batters to end the inning. Windsor couldn't capitalize on its third bases-loaded situation of the night in the sixth, but Rockwood retired the side, holding the score at 6-0 heading into the final stanza. The Jacks' Brooke McKeen reached on an error with two down, then stole second. After Kristin Clark walked McKeen stole third and came home on an error as the Cosmos attempted to get her out. Windsor finished with two hits and Springfield with nine. The Cosmos had eight with Rabtoy and Albero-Levings collecting two apiece. Rockwood struck out two while walking two and hitting one. “Going into playoffs, I was happy with today's performance,” said Hathorn. “I've been happy with the last four games before that. We're making plays defensively. Liv's [Rockwood] throwing strikes, giving us the opportunity to make plays.” Springfield (8-7) visits Green Mountain (13-1) today at 11 a.m. Windsor finishes the regular season at 2-14.