Tough-in-clutch Otters tip Rutland
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Umpire Karl Ross oversees the play as Rutland High School’s Megan Blongy tags out Kristy Pinkham of Otter Valley as she attempts to steal second base during a meeting of Marble Valley League powers on Tuesday in Brandon. ALBERT J. MARRO / RUTLAND HERALD |
Toolbox
By Chuck Clarino Staff Writer - Published: May 27, 2009
BRANDON – If this is indeed the year for the Otters, they'll look back on this game and how they won it as a template for success.
Kristy Pinkham's line-drive single scored the fleet Michaela Harrington from second base in the bottom of the eighth and Otter Valley walked off with a 2-1 victory over Rutland here Tuesday.
Although Pinkham collected three of the five Otter hits, Harrington scored both runs and senior Ashley Sanderson turned in her usual stellar pitching performance, it was defense and execution that won the game.
The Otters turned three double plays, all of which came at key junctures. But the final DP came in the top of the eighth with a runner in scoring position at second base and one out. Sam Tuepker lined a screaming shot toward the second base hole but Sam Hansen flashed to her left and caught the liner. Baserunner Sam Snitker was off with the crack of the bat and was too far toward third to scramble back. Hansen raced over and stepped on the bag for an unassisted double play to retire the side.
"How did we win it?" Hansen said, repeating the question, then thought about it a minute. "Luck, rally caps and getting the big play when we needed it.
"But our defense, yes, normally it's not the case. Ashley (Sanderson) usually takes care of it herself but we've always got her back."
This was great softball played between teams that have become rivals and before a sprawling crowd on a fine day. To heighten the intensity, the memory of OV's 2-0 win 10 days ago was still fresh.
Sanderson dominated that game, while her counterpart Katherine Cohen didn't have her best stuff.
On this day, Cohen had her good stuff and appeared to be very motivated. Even though the Otters manufactured a run in the fourth without the benefit of a hit, OV didn't collect its first hit until the fifth when Michelle Lefebvre stroked a single to right.
Sanderson, meanwhile, fanned the first three batters she faced but Rutland batters were making contact and taking their cuts. Still, Sanderson retired the first 12 batters she faced before Emily Louras reached on an error. That error led to the first Raider threat of the afternoon.
Liz Carrara followed with a soft single that fell in just behind first base, putting runners on first and second. Raider coach Dick Wright flashed the bunt sign to Snitker. Snitker bunted the ball up in the air and first baseman Ashlee Bird snared the pop-up and threw to Hansen at first to complete the Otters' first double play.
"You have to execute," said Wright. "Division I softball is all about execution; every play is important."
Rutland did execute on offense in the top of the sixth. Tuepker led with a single and Sara Alexander came on to run for her. Margaret Markowski got the sac-bunt down to move the runner to second. Alexander moved to third on an infield out and then scored on a Sanderson wild pitch to knot the game at 1-1.
The Otters responded by threatening in the bottom of the sixth but Cohen was equal to the task.
Hansen led the Otter sixth with a little single that she popped over the head of Cohen and with her speed was impossible to nab. Then Pinkham laid down a perfectly placed bunt, with the heady Hansen advancing all the way to third. Pinkham was heads up and advanced to second on the throw.
Here Cohen buckled down. She recorded two straight strikeouts when Julie Ketcham and Bird couldn't get the bunts down and then got Janelle Gallipo to ground out to first. Cohen seemed to increase her velocity during that inning.
The Raiders led the seventh with a single by Theresa Goodwin. After an out, Liz Carrara hit a drive to right field. Goodwin was off like there were two outs and the Otter right fielder threw to first to easily double up Goodwin to complete OV's second DP and end the inning.
After Hansen's unassisted DP allowed OV to escape a big jam in the eighth, Pinkham delivered the win when she drove her third hit into right center.
"It's always going to be a great game with Rutland," Otter coach Pattie Candon said. "My kids really live for these games."
OV improved to 14-1 and can wrap up the No. 1 seed in Division II with a win over Springfield, scheduled for here Thursday. The Raiders fell to 11-4 and still have a shot at the No. 5 seed in Division I but must defeat Hartford, which dealt the Raiders a loss, Thursday in White River Junction.
chuck.clarino@rutlandherald.com
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