High School Sports - Spring

section C

April 11, 2019

addison independent presents local high school

SPORTS

FEATURING:

• team rosters • schedules • pictures and stories

PAGE 2C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 11, 2019

MIDDLEBURY

UNION

HIGH

SCHOOL

MUHS Softball

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury softball team enjoyed a solid 2018 season, winning eight games, including a first-round Division I playoff contest.

And Coach Polly Rheaume’s Tigers, despite seeing three seniors graduate, return most of their top players.

“Returning players, we’ve got a lot of them, love it,” Rheaume said.

They include top hitter Gwen Stafford, a junior who will pitch this season, and power-hitting catcher Aby LaRock, also the No. 2 pitcher.

Stafford played mostly center field last year, but Rheaume said she is ready to take over on the mound.

“She’s doing good. She worked hard all winter,” Rheaume said.

The Tigers also return solid senior veterans at three infield positions: Metro all-star Carly Larocque at second base, Taylor Sylvester at shortstop and Ashley Sunderland at first base. Junior Sydney Provencher will back up Sunderland.

Rheaume believes senior outfielder Kyra Roberts can handle the transition to third base, with sophomores Grace Paquette, and Bailey Farrell a capable backup around the infield, also possibilities at the hot corner. Paquette is also an outfielder, while Rheaume said Farrell could fill in around the infield. But Roberts was Plan A in the preseason.

“We’re working on that right now, getting Kyra used to it,” Rheaume said.

Two more seniors are set in the outfield. Katelyn Stearns will take over in center, and if LaRock takes the mound Stearns will go behind the plate and Stafford can head back out to familiar pastures. Harley Williams will line up in right field.

There are plenty of candidates for left field, including Paquette; junior Addison Hubbell, also a backup catcher; and sophomore Olivia Audet, the team’s No. 3 pitcher.

In 2018 health issues at times held the Tigers back, and early on Rheaume

said so far, so good on that front.

“Last year we started out with some injuries. We’re hopeful we’ll stay away from that. That’ll be good,” she said.

In all, Rheaume expects the Tigers to be competitive.

“We’re always hopeful,” Rheaume said. “They look good. They’ve got a good attitude. So we’ll see how it goes.”

Middlebury Union High School Varsity Softball 5/7 @ Missisquoi Time 5/9 Milton 4:30 p.m.

5/11 @ South Burlington 11 a.m.

5/14 Vergennes 4:30 p.m.

5/16 @ Spaulding 4:30 p.m.

5/18 @ BFA Fairfax 11 a.m.

5/21 @ Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

5/24 @ Missisquoi 4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Date Opponent/Event 4/11 Essex 4/13 @ Vergennes 4/16 Milton 4/18 Spaulding 4/21 BFA St. Albans 4/23 Mt. Abraham 4/30 @ Mt. Anthony 5/2 BFA Fairfax

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

11 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

10 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

MUHS Varsity Softball Team Coach: Polly Rheaume Name Grade Aby LaRock 12 Carly Laroque 12 Kyra Roberts 12 Ashley Sunderland 12 Taylor Sylvester 12 Katelyn Stevens 12 Harley Williams 12 Addison Hubbell 11 Sydney Provencher 11 Gwen Stafford 11 Olivia Audet 10 Bailey Farrell 10 Grace Paquette 10

MUHS Boys’ Tennis

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — After an enjoyable and successful 2018 season and with many players back in the fold, Middlebury boys’ tennis Coach Ken Schoen is looking for more of the same.

“I think it’s going to be another strong season. We’re going to win most of our matches again,” Schoen predicted.

The team’s top two singles players last year were a senior and an exchange student who do not return.

But Schoen said players up and down the ladder have improved, while newcomers could also challenge for spots in the starting lineup as the season progresses.

“We’re going to be stronger at second doubles. We’re going to be stronger at fourth and fifth singles,” he said. “Everybody is going to be competitive.”

Seniors Jesse Rubin, the steady No. 3 a year ago, and the improving Spencer Doran should hold down the

top two spots and battle for No. 1, Schoen said.

He expects seniors Sam Daley and Drew Kiernan and junior Hunter Munteanu to occupy the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 slots in the singles ladder to open the season, in some order. But junior newcomers Eben Jackson and Joseph Findlay are knocking at the door, Schoen said.

“After the first match or two, then they can challenge in,” Eben and Joseph “Whoever is fourth or fifth, they’ll challenge those two positions.”

Sophomores Abel Anderson and Andy Giorgio return at first doubles, and sophomore Aiden Cole was a second-doubles mainstay a year ago who Schoen said has the talent to challenge for the singles ladder if he chooses. Jackson, Findlay and two promising sophomores who are also new to the team, Oliver Poduschnick and Karic Riche, will challenge for doubles slots.

All will see plenty of action,

MUHS Girls’ Lacrosse

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — There’s no question the Middlebury girls’ lacrosse team has a different look this spring.

After all, among the 11 seniors who graduated a year ago were an all-American goalie, three starting defenders, the team’s leading scorer, and many other athletes who helped the Tigers win back-to-back Division I titles.

Second-year Coach Brandi Whittemore acknowledges she faces a different challenge this year, but during the preseason she was looking forward to it.

“This year is definitely a rebuilding year. We’ll put all the pieces together, and hopefully we’ll be successful,” Whittemore said.

And there are players who are back after making an impact, either for one season or more.

Senior Emily Laframboise is a

proven scorer, senior midfielder Lacey Greenamyre is a tenacious defender who developed an allaround game last season, senior midfielder Ada Anderson played a vital role in transition last year and will be looked to carry a bigger load this spring, senior Phoebe Smith is versatile and could either defend or attack, junior middie Malia Hodges will play a bigger role this season, and sophomore Kaitlyn McNamara emerged on defense late last campaign.

“Our returners are all very key players and good leaders. They’ve showed up a lot the past two weeks,” Whittemore said.

Then there are the newcomers.

Starting in the back, sophomore Lydia Deppman steps into the goal after solid varsity field and ice hockey seasons.

Joining McNamara in the back will be juniors Katie Berthiaume and Alice Ganey, sophomore Cam

Schoen pledged.

“These other guys are going to be filling in no matter what, because you’ve got nine positions for every match, and I’ve got 12 players,” he said. “Everybody is going to get a lot of playing time. And they should.

They’re a bunch of super good athletes.

Jaring and freshman Fairley Olson, plus Smith if she doesn’t play attack. Freshman Ivy Doran could also line up at low defense.

Anderson and Greenamyre will anchor the midfield, with Hodges, juniors Taylor Moulton and Maeve Hammel, sophomore Clara Wolff, freshman Carlisle Brush and Doran ready to run with them. Hammel and possibly Hodges could also line up at attack, Whittemore said.

Sophomore Ella McKhan could also figure into the mix if she recovers from injury late in the season.

Attack was the least settled position, with only junior Grace Tucker and freshman Avery Gale listed solely at the position along with Laframboise. Whittemore said she would be looking at one or more of Smith, Hodges and Hammel to join the front line.

She does expect many of the younger players to excel quickly.

“It’s a strong incoming class, and they’ve all played sports together, so they have that connection, and they fit right in,” Whittemore said.

“The chemistry is there.”

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And just because it is a different season doesn’t mean it can’t be a good season, she said.

“Anything can happen. We’re a new team, definitely rebuilding,” Whittemore said. “But I’m not doubting or putting any restrictions on that these girls are capable of.

They have a lot of talent, and they do have that unique team chemistry that I do think will make them successful.”

MUHS Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Date Opponent/Event Time 4/5 @ South Burlington 4:30 p.m.

4/9 @ Rutland 4:30 p.m.

4/12 Hanover 4:30 p.m.

4/16 @ CVU 4:30 p.m.

4/18 Essex 4:30 p.m.

4/29 @ Rice 4:30 p.m.

5/1 Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/3 Mt. Mansfield 4:30 p.m.

5/6 @ Mt. Anthony 4:30 p.m.

5/8 South Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/11 CVU 11 a.m.

5/13 @ Burr & Burton 4:30 p.m.

5/15 @ Essex 4:30 p.m.

5/18 @ Burlington 11 a.m.

5/20 @ BFA-St. Albans 4:30 p.m.

5/23 @ Mt. Mansfield 4:30 p.m.

MUHS Boys’ Varsity Tennis Team Coach: Ken Schoen Name Grade Samuel Daly 12 Drew Kiernan 12 Jesse Rubin 12 Spencer Doran 11 Joseph Findlay 11 Eben Jackson 11 Hunter Munteanu 11 Abel Anderson 10 Aiden Cole 10 Andrew Giorgio 10 Oliver Poduschnick 10 Karic Riche 10

MUHS Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Team Coach: Brandi Whittemore Name Grade Ada Anderson 12 Lacy Greenamyre 12 Emily Laframboise 12 Katie Berthiaume 11 Alice Ganey 11 Maeve Hammel 11 Malia Hodges 11 Taylor Moulton 11 Phoebe Smith 11 Grace Tucker 11 Lydia Deppman 10 Cam Jaring 10 Ella McKhann 10 Kaitlyn McNamara 10 Clara Wolff 10 Carlisle Brush 9 Ivy Doran 9 Avery Gale 9 Fairley Olson 9

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So, yes, Schoen is looking forward to the matches.

“We’re going to have a winning season. I’d be surprised if we didn’t because these guys are committed,” he said. “They’re really smart.

They’re fun. And they know how to work hard.”

MUHS Boys’ Tennis Date Opponent/Event Time 4/13 @ Colchester 10 a.m.

4/22 Hartford 4 p.m.

4/30 @ Mt. Mansfield 3:30 p.m.

5/3 @ Harwood 3:30 p.m.

5/6 Spaulding 3:30 p.m.

5/8 @ BFA St. Albans 3:30 p.m.

5/10 @ U-32 3:30 p.m.

5/13 North Country 3:30 p.m.

5/15 Montpelier 3:30 p.m.

5/17 @ Hartford 4 p.m.

5/20 @ Spaulding 3:30 p.m.

5/22 BFA St. Albans 3:30 p.m.

5/24 Harwood 3:30 p.m.

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Addison Independent, Thursday, April 11, 2019 — PAGE 3C

MIDDLEBURY

UNION

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SCHOOL

MUHS Boys’ & Girls’ Track & Field

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury track and field Coach Ed Blechner was looking forward to good results this spring when he surveyed his team during a break from supervising a preseason warm-up.

“We’ve got a few really good kids who have come back, and I have some really high expectations for them,” Blechner said. “And we’ve got a lot of newcomers.”

On the girls’ side junior Isabel Olson finished fourth in the Division II state championship meet at 400 meters a year ago and ran on two second-place Tiger relay teams, the four-by-400-meter and 4x800 teams.

Senior Ailey Bosworth joined her on both those teams, and Blechner believes there are candidates who will emerge to join them.

“We’ve got some people that might surprise us,” he said.

MUHS Boys’ Lacrosse

Blechner is also looking for junior hurdler Merry Kimble to move up onto the podium after a seventh-place finish in the 300 hurdles a year ago.

Among many younger athletes who could blossom he cited freshman Maddy Stowe, who is coming off a strong Nordic season.

On the boys’ side sophomore sprinter CJ Bryant anchored both the second-place 4x100 and the fourthplace 4x400 Tiger teams, and two of his 4x100 teammates return, senior Tristan Durante and junior Anthony Garner.

Especially with Garner healthier

Middlebury Union High School Varsity Track and Field Team Coach: Ed Blechner Name Grade GIRLS Aileen Bosworth 12 Lian McGarry 12 Maisie Newbury 12 Samantha Paige 12 Virginia Patz 12 Emily Pottinger 12 Natali Sullivan 12 Katherine Wallace 12 Mary Ann Eastman 11 Merry Kimble 11 Annie Lapiner 11 Journey LaRose 11 Isabel Olson 11 Michelle Skovsgard 11 Tea Zizis 11 Sofia Stefani 10 Genevieve Rose Dora 9 Catherine Mary Dyer 9 Viviana Hammond 9 Eve Huntington 9 Ella Landis 9 Zoe Noble 9 Maddy Stowe 9 Hannah Turner 9

MUHS

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — The newest varsity sport at Middlebury Union High School is the latest official high school sport in Vermont — and in the U.S. Vermont in late 2018 became the first state to sanction Ultimate — don’t call it Ultimate Frisbee, because the name of the flying discs used to play the game is trademarked. And MUHS this spring will be around one of about 20 high schools around the state to field an official varsity team.

But the sport is not new at the school. Coach Michelle Steele has been guiding the sport there since it was formed as a club in 2012.

“Over the years we’ve kind of gotten more and more serious and attended more and more games,” Steele said. In recent years the Tigers have competed in state championship tournaments, finishing 10th two years ago and earning 5th place in 2018 in the Open division, which places no restrictions on the numbers of girls and boys who take the field on the

BOYS Isaac Buttolph Tristan Durante Ian Fenster Ethan Reiderer Nico Brayton William Carpenter Gabriel Cason Anthony Garner Hunter Heffernan Samuel Klingensmith Ulysse Niel Peter Wolosinski Frank Wolff Darrien Brown C.J. Bryant Alex Mencel Lucas Nelson Thomas Nevins Kieran Sheridan Nicholas Suchomel Cameron Clark Castelli Ethan Foster Noah Manns Elvis McIntosh Nathaniel McVeigh Lucas Palcsik

this spring than in 2018, according to Blechner, the 4x100 team members hope to break the school record they approached a season ago.

“That’s a goal this year,” he said.

Junior Will Carpenter ran on the Tigers’ fourth-place 4x800 team last spring and also is back.

Junior pole vaulter Gabe Cason also returns after finishing fourth in D-II a year ago, while senior Ian Fenster took ninth.

“We’ve got a few more pole vaulters that could do something as well,” Blechner said.

Junior hurdler Hunter Heffernan also took a fourth in 2018, at 300 meters, and finished just off the podium in the 110 hurdles. Blechner

12 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 9 9

Ultimate seven-strong team at a time.

“Along with becoming varsity and along with kids taking it more seriously every year and becoming more committed we’ve been able to recruit more and build a stronger team,” Steele said.

MUHS Ultimate plays on what Steele calls the Ultimate field, but most of Middlebury knows as the MUHS football field. Players score points by catching the discs in the end zone from a teammate. The central rule is that players cannot run once they catch the disc, but must throw it to a teammate to advance the disc up the field.

The sport is non-contact, and players may not interfere with athletes looking to get open to catch a disc (they’re called “cutters”) thrown by a “handler,” nor may they interfere with a cutter looking to make a catch.

Handlers must establish a pivot foot, as in basketball. An incomplete pass or a foul means the other team takes possession of the disc at the spot of the throw or infraction.

Many of the Tigers who handled and cut last year graduated, although the players on this year’s roster all got some experience in 2018, Steele said.

“We graduated 12 seniors last year, so it is a little bit of a rebuilding year for us. I will say with the youth Ultimate scene it changes a lot from year to year, because it is a new sport in high school,” she said in the preseason. “It can really change from year to year depending who’s on the roster, who’s not. So I feel optimistic.

But it could be hard to say until we get out there and see our competition.”

The captains are seniors Silas Conlon, Michael Huber and Xavier Wyncoop, while senior Jack Singh is “Spirit Captain.” Ultimate players call their own fouls, and Spirit Captains help settle disputes or even call gamewide timeouts if things get testy.

Steele said she planned a freeflow offense without set cutters and handlers. Other players are seniors Jacob Galvin, Audrey Huston and Peter Orzech; juniors Kenneth (See Ultimate, Page 4C)

believes sophomore Nick Suchomel could also emerge in the hurdling events.

Blechner looks to sophomore Thomas Nevins and freshman Elvis McIntosh to run well in distance events, and is confident others will step forward as the season progresses.

“We’ve got some kids who I think are going to show some things,” he said. “I’m quite pleased with the way things are going.”

Blechner also early on saw a promising attitude and focus among the athletes.

“We’ve got a fair number of seniors, so hopefully we’ll get some good leadership from them. So I’m optimistic,” he said. “We always

MUHS Varsity Track and Field Date Opponent/Event Time 4/12 Home Meet 3:30 p.m.

4/16 @ CVU 3:30 p.m.

4/24 @ Essex Vacational 3:30 a.m.

5/1 @ Essex 3:30 p.m.

5/7 @ Mt. Abraham 3:30 p.m.

5/11 @ Burlington Invitational 9 a.m.

5/15 Home Meet 3:30 p.m.

5/21 @ Rice 3:30 p.m.

5/25 @ Essex Invitational TBD

point toward the end of the season.

The other sports you have to win the games to get into the playoffs. Here, we point toward the end of the season.

I’m optimistic that by the time we get into mid- to late May we should be kicking into high gear and do well.”

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — First-year Middlebury boys’ lacrosse coach Matt Rizzo foresees his Tigers at the very least being once again competitive within Division I after a .500 season a year ago, if not take a step forward.

That belief assumes the Tigers will play hard, focus, and not beat themselves, Rizzo said.

“We’re probably going to be one of those teams where we need to win the intangibles, like the ground-ball game.

We’re going to have to win the ground balls. We’re going to have to win the face-off game. We’re going to have to not turn the ball over. Unforced errors, those will hurt us,” Rizzo said. “If we do those things I do think we can compete with CVU, Essex, St. Albans and South Burlington.”

The Tigers have lost players last year and the year before to graduation and prep school, but Rizzo believes plenty of talent remains.

There are plenty of veteran in the back, starting with senior Derek Felkl.

“The defense will be anchored by our senior captain, Derek Felkl, and really I think all of our long sticks are going to get playing time,” Rizzo said.

Most of the other long-stick wielders also have experience: juniors Hunter Gale (probably the starter at long-stick middie), Trysten Quesnel and Eli Billings. They will be joined by freshman Matthew Kiernan. All the defenders will probably take turns at long-stick middie as well, Rizzo said.

Sophomore Jack Rizzo takes over in goal after seeing some varsity action a year ago, and Coach Rizzo said he is ready for the challenge. Senior Colton Paquette will back up Rizzo.

Junior Zeke Hooper will serve as a faceoff specialist, and Rizzo said he should provide the Tigers a crucial edge there. Junior Ian Ploof, senior Ben Crawford, and sophomore Mason Kaufmann will comprise (See Boys’ Lacrosse, Page 4C)

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PAGE 4C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 11, 2019

MIDDLEBURY

MUHS

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — In 2018 Coach Charlie Messenger’s Middlebury baseball squad won 11 times, including a long-awaited first-round playoff contest, and claimed a share of first-place in the newly formed Lake Division.

With his top three pitchers and six starting position players back in the fold, Messenger believes the Tigers are capable of more of the same.

“They figured out how to win some games that usually got away from them (last spring). But I think we can be a lot better this year,” Messenger said.

Those top three pitchers are staff ace Wyatt Cameron, a senior; senior Jordy Stearns; and junior Hale Hescock. Crafty junior lefty Nick Carrera joins them to comprise what Messenger said should be a strong front four.

“Those are the top four,” he said. “I

MUHS

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — If anything, Middlebury girls’ tennis coach Jill Dunn was faced with too much of a good thing when preseason began.

While many area high school coaches fretted about low turnout in their programs, 24 girls showed up for Dunn’s team.

The catch was with only four Middlebury recreation park courts to play on, that’s about twice as many as ideal for a program that cannot carry a JV team.

Dunn had to set up a tournament to decide who made the team, and as of the deadline for this report a couple of spots were still up in the air.

But Dunn was not unhappy to see the high level of interest in the lifetime sport, and she was working on a way

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Baseball think four good pitchers should get us through the year.”

If necessary junior Devon Kearns or freshman Milo Thomas Gordon can also give the Tigers innings, Messenger said.

Kearns has a bigger job, however: He is the starting catcher, with sophomore Wyatt Rubright also ready to step in behind the plate.

Carrera and Spencer Cadoret are the first baseman, and Messenger plans to move Stearns from third base and make him a primary second baseman. Cameron and Hescock are the shortstops, with Hescock ready to slide over to second base if necessary.

Junior Ryan Nadeau can also step in at second base.

Cadoret, sophomore Drew Gill and Stearns can line up at third base.

Messenger is confident in the Tiger infield.

“We’ve got a pretty solid infield, and we’re working on some backups,”

Girls’ Tennis

he said.

In the preseason Messenger was leaning toward an all-senior outfield of Simon Fischer in left, Sean Deering in center and Aaron Larocque in right.

“We’ve got a lot of speed in the outfield,” he said. “That’s a strong, really fast outfield.

Thomas Gordon, junior Avery Austin-Neil, senior Lucas Farrell and freshman twins Tucker and Calvin Kennett offer outfield depth.

Messenger is cautiously optimistic about his offense, but noted two .300 hitters graduated.

“I don’t have any problems with our pitching and fielding. It’s going to be do we hit the ball or not,” he said.

Messenger also said at times he arranged his rotation last year to make sure Cameron faced winnable opponents, thus ensuring victories for the Tigers. This year he will let the chips fall where they may.

“Then we get to see exactly how

to keep at least some of the players interested in tennis.

“This is a really good problem to have,” she said. “We’re going to figure out a program to keep these girls in the loop.”

What Dunn could determine about this year’s edition was that her 10 veterans were all likely to be back.

Sophomore Elizabeth Bright ended up playing No. 2 singles a year ago, while senior Anna Scharstein held down the No. 3 spot. Sophomores Abigail Bailey and Sara Nicolai also return after trading off the Nos. 4 and 5 spots late in the 2018 season.

Juniors Isadora Luksch and Ellie Kiel both saw action on the No. 1 doubles team, as did sophomore Emma Franklin. And sophomores Lois Alberts, Bridget Graham and

Gwen Troumbley all took turns on the No. 2 doubles team. Dunn said she was planning to play Alberts and Franklin, Luksch and Kiel (who were voted captains), and Graham and Troumbley as teams.

Dunn said two newcomers, freshman Julia Bartlett and junior exchange student Gabi Marin Aspichueta, could find themselves high on the singles ladder. Freshman Oni Krizo is also in the singles mix.

“We’re excited about returning players, but we have some new talent,” Dunn said.

The Tigers a year ago won just once after graduating almost all of a successful team from the year before.

But Dunn sees improvement already from where the team ended a year.

“It was a completely rebuilding year last year, but honestly the girls have gotten so much better,” Dunn said. “I feel we’re going to have some

Sophomore Antonio Abdul-Sater will also see time on the attack.

Rizzo sees strengths up and down the field.

“Kolby at the attack, Ben Crawford at the midfield and Derek Felkl on defense are probably the leaders there.

But I also think Ian Ploof is going to have a big year, and I think Bode Rubright has the potential to have a big year. And I think Jack has the potential to have a huge year in goal,” he said.

And Rizzo said the Tigers played

the state’s best tough a year ago.

“We lost to CVU in the quarters by two or three goals, and in the regular season it was a one-goal game, and they ended up winning the title game,” he said. “We can compete with anybody. So we’ll see.”

good we are or aren’t,” Messenger said. “I want to see how good we can be.”

How good is that?

“I don’t know about wins and losses during the season. We’ll see how that plays out,” Messenger said. “What I would like to do is be competitive.

I’d like to win a first-round Division I playoff game again. And then if that happens I’d like to be more competitive in the second round.”

strong matches.”

And she expects that to translates into improved results, in part because the internal competition will be tougher.

“We’re going to win more than one, just because we’re a better team,” Dunn said. “Because of the level of competitiveness, we’re having a real strong preseason. And that’s going to translate.”

MUHS Varsity Baseball Date Opponent/Event Time 4/11 Essex 4:30 p.m.

4/13 @ Vergennes 11 a.m.

4/16 Milton 4:30 p.m.

4/18 Spaulding 4:30 p.m.

4/20 BFA St. Albans 11 a.m.

4/23 Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

4/30 @ Fair Haven 4:30 p.m.

5/2 BFA Fairfax 4:30 p.m.

5/7 @ Missisquoi 4:30 p.m.

5/9 @ Milton 4:30 p.m.

5/11 @ South Burlington 11 a.m.

5/14 Vergennes 4:30 p.m.

5/16 @ Spaulding 4:30 p.m.

5/18 @ BFA Fairfax 10 a.m.

5/21 @ Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

5/23 @ Missisquoi 4:30 p.m.

MUHS Varsity Baseball Team Coach: Charlie Messenger Name Grade Spencer Cadoret 12 Wyatt Cameron 12 Sean Deering 12 Lucas Farrell 12 Simon Fischer 12 Aaron Larocque 12 Jordy Stearns 12 Nick Carrara 11 Hale Hescock 11 Devon Kearns 11 Ryan Nadeau 11 Drew Gill 10 Wyatt Rubright 10 Avery Austin-Neil 9 Calvin Kennett 9 Tucker Kennett 9 Milo Thomas Gordon 9

MUHS Girls’ Tennis Date Opponent/Event Time 4/13 Colchester 10 a.m.

4/30 Mt. Mansfield 3:30 p.m.

5/3 Harwood 3:30 p.m.

5/6 @ Spaulding 3:30 p.m.

5/8 BFA St. Albans 3:30 p.m.

5/10 U-32 3:30 p.m.

5/13 @ North Country 3:30 p.m.

5/15 @ Montpelier 3:30 p.m.

5/20 Spaulding 3:30 p.m.

5/22 @ BFA St. Albans 3:30 p.m.

5/24 @ Harwood 3:30 p.m.

MUHS Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team Coaches: Jill Dunn Name Grade Anna Scharstein 12 Gabi Marin Aspichueta 11 Ellie Kiel 11 Isadora Luksch 11 Lois Alberts 10 Abigail Bailey 10 Elizabeth Bright 10 Emma Franklin 10 Bridget Graham 10 Sarah Nicolai 10 Gwen Troumbley 10 Julia Bartlett 9 Oni Krizo 9

Boys’ Lacrosse (Continued from Page 3C) what Rizzo said will be a strong first midfield line, and the second group of middies will be junior Thatcher Trudeau, freshman Eddie Hodde, and either junior Kam Bartlett, who will rotate between attack and midfield, or junior David Peters.

Two other middies will see action as short-stick defensive specialists, senior Tucker Moulton and junior Jacob Weber.

Up front Rizzo said senior Kolby Farnsworth and sophomore Bode Rubright will start, while Bartlett and juniors Logan Pierson-Flagg and James Jette will most likely rotate through the third spot on the left side.

MUHS Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Date Opponent/Event Time 4/3 Burlington 4 p.m.

4/6 Burr & Burton 4 p.m.

4/8 @ Essex 4 p.m.

4/10 @ Woodstock 4 p.m.

4/13 @ Rutland 11 a.m.

4/15 South Burlington 4 p.m.

4/17 @ CVU 4 p.m.

4/30 @ Rice 4 p.m.

5/2 Mt. Mansfield 4 p.m.

5/7 @ Colchester 4 p.m.

5/10 Essex 4 p.m.

5/13 @ South Burlington 4 p.m.

5/16 Woodstock 4 p.m.

5/18 Hanover 11 a.m.

5/21 @ BFA St. Albans 4 p.m.

5/24 CVU 4 p.m.

Middlebury Union High School Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Team Coach: Matt Rizzo Eli Billings Name Grade Hunter Gale Ben Crawford 12 Ezekiel Hooper Kolby Farnsworth 12 James Jette Derek Felkl 12 David Peters Tucker Moulton 12 Ian Ploof Colton Paquette 12 Trysten Quesnel Kamrin Bartlett 11

11 11 11 11 11 11 11

Thatcher Trudeau Jacob Webber Antonio Abdul-Sater Mason Kaufmann Jackson Rizzo Bode Rubright Edwin Hodde Matthew Kiernan

11 11 10 10 10 10 9 9

Ultimate (Continued from Page 3C) Barkdoll, Brian Limoge and Catherine Schmitt; and sophomores Jack Christner and Timothy Hunsdorfer.

The Tigers’ schedule doesn’t start until an away game on May 1. Steele is excited about the Tigers’ home opener on May 3, which will be under the lights at Doc Collins Ultimate Field, with the concessions stand open and an announcer to set the stage for the action.

“It will be a showcase game to hopefully introduce Ultimate to our community,” Steele said. “That will be a fun opportunity for people who are interested in learning more to come and check it out.”

Middlebury Union High School Ultimate Date Opponent/Event Time

@ Long Trail 5/6:15 p.m.

5/1 Burlington @ CVU 5/6:15 p.m.

5/13 Vermont Commons 4 p.m.

5/3 Montpelier/Rice 4/7:30 p.m.

5/17 Brattleboro/Burr & Burton 5/6 Rice 4 p.m.

@ B & B 5/6:15 p.m.

5/9 Vermont Commons 4 p.m.

5/24 Long Trail/Brattleboro 5/10 Burr & Burton/Long Trail

@Long Trail 3:45/5 p.m.

MUHS Varsity Ultimate Coach: Michelle Steele Jack Singh Name Grade Xavier Wyncoop Silas Conlon 12 Bryan Limoge Jacob Galvin 12 Catherine Schmitt Michael Huber 12 Jack Christner Audrey Huston 12 Timothy Hunsdorfer Peter Orzech 12

12 12 11 11 10 10

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Addison Independent, Thursday, April 11, 2019 — PAGE 5C

OTTER VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL

OVUHS

By RUSSELL JONES BRANDON — For the first time in over three decades, Otter Valley has a new coach heading up their softball program, actually they’ll have two. Legendary OV softball coach Pattie Candon retired last season after 33 years, racking up 347 wins and four state championships. Two coaches were brought in to replace the hall-offamer and this year, a new era of Otter softball begins under the guidance of Kelly Trayah and Toni Poalino.

Trayah, who also coaches the OV girls’ basketball team, is a former head coach of the Mount Abe softball team, which he led to the championship game in 2016. Poalino, who was Trayah’s assistant coach during the basketball season, headed Mount St. Joseph’s softball program for a season before taking a teaching position at crosstown rival Rutland High School.

The coaches have a wealth of experience to draw from having both played the game — Poalino for 30 years — and both have coached at various levels for years.

They are off to a good start as they had a large pool of players; 30 girls tried out.

“The numbers were really encouraging,” Poalino said. “We’ll have 12 on varsity and 17 on JV, but 2 of those are injured and when they come back we don’t know where they’ll end up.”

The two have some large shoes to fill; Candon was elected to the Vermont Principals’ Association Hall of Fame, the Castleton

Softball University Athletic Hall of Fame and the Northeast Women’s Hall of Fame.

“We don’t really feel like we’re in the shadow of Patti,” Trayah said. “We like to think of it more as building upon the solid foundation that she laid down.”

The foundation that they will look to build upon is largely about getting the basics mastered.

“Patti was big on fundamentals, that was her thing,” Trayah said.

“We’re going to take that base and expand, while giving it our own twist.”

Candon still stops by and helps the young girls out, according to the two coaches, and they plan on utilizing any help she wants to give.

“We’re going to have a small ball approach,” Trayah said. “We will be really aggressive on the bases.”

“Every girl is going to be able to lay down a bunt,” Poalino added.

“It’s an important tool that we plan on using to our advantage. It helps to keep the opposing pitcher flustered.”

Trayah said that the bunt is an easy way to advance the runners, move the defense in, and get runners in scoring position before bringing them around and something they plan on doing a lot of.

On the pitching side, the coaches say they will focus on accuracy and consistency although they may not have speed. The starter will be Morgan LaPorte, a junior who has increased her velocity in the offseason but is also throwing more strikes this season.

“With being more accurate and hitting the strike zone with more regularity, she’s built a lot of confidence,” Trayah said.

Freshman Riley Keith will do some of the heavy lifting on the mound as well.

“She’s very promising, she still has some maturing to do, but she’s a freshmen,” Poalino said. “But she’s got great velocity, she’s the fastest on the team, and she’s working on her accuracy.”

During preseason the team was still practicing in the gym, but the coaches say, “so far, so good.”

“It’s hard to judge indoors, but I’ve been pretty impressed by what I’ve seen so far,” she said. “It’s a really young team, we don’t have any seniors.”

“The team has great energy and they’re building great camaraderie,” Trayah said. “We’re excited about the season and we’ll continue to grow as the season goes on.”

OVUHS Varsity Softball Team Coach: Kelly Trayah, Toni Poalino Name Grade Livia Bernhardt 11 Isabella Falco 11 Madison French 11 Carolynn LaFountaine 11 Morgan LaPorte 11 Renee O’Connell 11 Stephanie Palmer 11 Shayla Phillips 11 Josie Cone 10 Mia Politano 10 Jadynn Pope 10 Riley Keith 9

OVUHS

Girls’ Tennis

By RUSSELL JONES BRANDON — The Otter Valley girls’ tennis program will return all but one player from last year. The squad will be made up of four seniors and three sophomores.

“The expectations for the team this year are to be competitive with our opponents but to have fun as well,” coach Hailey Watters said. “This will be my first year (ever) coaching a tennis team so I’m hoping we can learn and grow together.”

Due to six of the seven girls also being a part of the school’s “One Act Play” program, they have only had a

OVUHS

Date Opponent/Event Time 4/5 Springfield POSTPONED 4/8 @ Rutland 4:30 p.m.

4/13 Brattleboro 11 a.m.

4/23 @ Mill River 4:30 p.m.

4/25 @ Windsor 4:30 p.m.

4/29 5/1 5/3 5/4 5/9 5/13

OVUHS Varsity Softball @ Fair Haven 4:30 p.m.

Windsor 4:30 p.m. @ Bellows Falls 4:30 p.m. @ MAU 4:30 p.m.

Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

Hartford 4:30 p.m.

OVUHS Boys’ Lacrosse

By RUSSELL JONES BRANDON — Otter Valley boys’ lacrosse coach Jesse Milliman has a large squad of varsity lacrosse players to work with this season, in fact it’s his largest ever in his five years as the OV coach. Milliman attributes this large influx mostly to the town recreation department’s success with the seventh- and eighthgrade programs.

Milliman has 24 players who suited up this spring where he usually only sees around 15 come out. It will be a strong team with quality, veteran leadership. He has eight seniors returning this year, and his goalie, Alec Stevens; two attackers, Hayden Gallo and Tim Kittler; and midfielder Ethan Sulik-Doty were all-state selections last year.

“It certainly helps to have that senior leadership in place,” Milliman said. “But we’ll also have young guys in key roles.”

There are nine freshmen that will be expected to contribute throughout the season and the team should have a really deep bench that will help

with the tough schedule they’ll face.

“We’ll need to get the young guys adjusted to the game at this level,” said Milliman. “The intensity and speed is different than what they’re used to.”

The Otters opened play last week with a scrimmage at the Norwich Jamboree. They will need to get adjusted early on because they have a very difficult early schedule and will face three Division I teams in Rutland, Woodstock and Brattleboro.

They will also take on perennial powerhouse Hartford as well as

5/15 5/17 5/20 5/22 5/24

Mill River Bellows Falls Fair Haven @ Springfield @ Leland & Gray

4 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

OVUHS Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Date Opponent/Event Time 4/8 @ Rutland 4 p.m.

4/16 @ Hartford 6:30 p.m.

4/20 Brattleboro 11 a.m.

4/23 Lamoille 4 p.m.

4/25 @ Woodstock 4 p.m.

5/2 GMVS 4 p.m.

5/6 @ Mt. Abraham/Vergennes 4 p.m.

5/8 Montpelier 4 p.m.

5/14 Stratton 4 p.m.

5/18 Mt. Abraham/Vergennes 11 a.m.

5/20 @ Montpelier 7 p.m.

5/22 Hartford 4 p.m.

Stratton and Green Mountain.

“Our first three games are against Rutland, Hartford and Brattleboro,” Milliman said. “But I’m always telling them, if you want to improve you have to step on the field with the best.”

Otter Valley Union High School Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Team Coach: Jesse Milliman Ross Fiske Name Grade Jakob Stevens Hayden Gallo 12 Parker Swain Joshua Granger 12 David Williams Timothy Kittler 12 Hayden Bernhardt Jacob O’Connell 12 Dominic Davis Zachary Scarborough 12 Isaac Derepentigny Alec Stevens 12 Samuel Martin Kameron Strickland 12 Matthew Moseley Ethan Sulik-Doty 12 Daniel O’Brien Jared Denis 11 Nicholas Parker Spencer Pelkey 11 Evan Thomas Levi Cram 10 Kieran Williams

10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

limited number of practices.

“The girls all have pretty powerful swings and once we work on being more accurate I think they will be good at placement of their shots to win points,” Watters said.

The team has been focused so far on swings, serving and placing the ball, but as they are able to get more practice in they will focus more on footwork and serving.

Watters said their most difficult opponents will be Woodstock and Burr and Burton.

“They always bring their A-game when competing,” she said of those

Baseball

By RUSSELL JONES BRANDON — The Otter Valley baseball program fulfilled all of its goals in 2017, bringing home the Division II state championship that season. Two years later, the team still has nine players that were there for that ride and are ready to do it one more time. But, those players also know it will take more than just lacing up their cleats and stepping onto the field to bring home the trophy.

“They know that it will take more than just energy, more than just effort,” head coach Michael Howe said. “It will take commitment and they’ll have to work hard to get there.”

That 2017 championship team was young, and that may be one of the biggest factors that influence the success of the Otters this season.

“We have seven guys who have essentially played the game for their whole careers so far,” Howe said.

“They have all gotten the time on the

OVUHS Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team Coach: Hailey Watters Name Grade Evelyn Bart 12 Meghan Chaney 12 Madeline Fuller 12 Brenna McCullough 12 Madilyn Morgan 10 Anoushka Pschorr 10 Sydney Singh 10

OVUHS Girls’ Varsity Tennis Date Opponent/Event Time 4/6 Brattleboro 11 a.m.

4/22 @ Woodstock 4 p.m.

4/25 @ Burr & Burton 4 p.m.

4/29 Rutland 4 p.m.

5/1 @ Bellows Falls 4:30 p.m.

5/3 MSJ 4 p.m.

5/8 MAU 4:30 p.m.

5/10 Bellows Falls 4:30 p.m.

5/15 Woodstock 4 p.m.

5/20 @ MSJ 4 p.m.

5/22 Hartford 4 p.m.

field and the lineup won’t change much so there’s a consistency there.”

Howe said the team’s pitching is good and they have a number of players who can throw lots of innings.

“It’s always a good thing when you have experience and can go out there and throw strikes,” he said.

“We have quite a few guys who can eat up innings, which is important when you get into the meat of the season and you’re playing three or four games a week.”

The coach said the offensive philosophy would rely on pressure.

“When we get a runner on base, our goal is to drive that runner in,” Howe said. “We can hit-and-run and we can steal. We’ll do whatever it takes to keep pressure on that opposing pitcher. If we can keep the focus on the runners, the batters have a much easier time at the plate.”

As far as the most challenging matchups of the season, Howe said he doesn’t know much about the northern part of the state, but Fair Haven will be a test.

“Fair Haven is always good,” he said. “That is a fun competition.

They always play their best against us.”

The snow has kept the team practicing indoors, but they will make up for that soon enough. The team has a trip to Florida planned in a few weeks, where they will practice at Dodgertown, where the Dodgers hold spring training.

Howe said when they get to the playoffs, anything can happen. As his team found out last year when they lost at home in the quarterfinals.

“The goal is always to make it to Centennial Field, and these guys have kind of a sour taste in their mouth with the way last season ended,” he said. “They’re playing with a chip on their shoulder this season. The goal is to hang another banner and I think they’re ready for the challenge.”

OVUHS Varsity Baseball Team Coach: Michael Howe Name Grade Jack Adams 12 Joshua Beayon 12 Kollin Bissette 12 Nathaniel Hudson 12 Marcus McCullough 12 Patrick McKeighan 12 Reilly Shannon 12 Nathanial Blake 11 Logan Trombley 11 Aidan Blier 10 Lane Eddy 10 Dylan Gaboriault 10 Alexander Polli 10 Lucias Sheldrick 10 Parker Todd 10

OVUHS Varsity Baseball Date Opponent/Event Time 4/5 @ Mill River 4:30 p.m.

4/8 @ Fair Haven 4:30 p.m.

4/20 Bellows Falls 11 a.m.

4/20 Burr & Burton 3 p.m.

4/23 Mill River 4:30 p.m.

4/25 @ Windsor 4:30 p.m.

4/29 @ MAU 4:30 p.m.

5/1 Windsor 4:30 p.m.

5/3 @ Rutland 5 p.m.

5/7 Springfield 4:30 p.m.

5/9 Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

5/13 @ Springfield 4:30 p.m.

5/15 Hartford 4 p.m.

5/17 @ Brattleboro 5 p.m.

5/20 @ Bellows Falls 4:30 p.m.

5/22 Fair Haven 4:30 p.m.

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PAGE 6C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 11, 2019

MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION HIGH SCHOOL

Mt. Abe

Baseball

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — Longtime Mount Abraham baseball Coach Jeff Stetson sees potential for a bit of a bounceback from 2018’s five-win season, thanks in part to his ability to roll out three solid starting pitchers, backed up by four more Eagles he thinks can throw strikes and help the team.

“I’m very hopeful that our deep pitching is going to keep us in some games while we sort some things out,” Stetson said.

Those top three will be junior veterans Nolan Whitcomb and Eben Clifford and senior Ethan Bissonette, who pitched well for Vergennes in 2018 but is studying in Bristol this year.

“I think I’ve got seven guys who can give me innings, with those first three getting the majority,” Stetson said. Rounding out the staff will be juniors Max Breault and Silas Burgess and sophomores Ryan Whitcomb and Will Vichi.

At catcher senior Parker Hines — one of only two seniors active on the roster his season after classmate Jacob Hoag was injured — is the incumbent, but juniors Tristin Roscoe and Jackson Gepfert will look for time behind the plate.

Stetson said in many cases he expected who will play where would be sorted out on the team’s trip to Florida, which was set to begin the day

Mt. Abe

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — The Mount AbrahamVergennes cooperative boys’ lacrosse team is looking to take a step forward from 2018’s one-win campaign, and Coach Ed Cook is optimistic the Eagles can make that happen.

“Our team dynamic is so much better than it was last year. Our stick skills are so much better. And we can pass and catch and we’re putting some balls in the back of the net this year, at least in practice,” Cook said.

“So our offense should be clicking a little bit more than it was last year.”

And Cook doesn’t believe the attack will be the team strength.

The team’s back line returns four starters, senior goalie Grady Brokaw, junior defender Jonas Schroeder, sophomore defender Quincy Cook,

after he spoke to the Independent.

Clifford, when he’s not pitching, and sophomore Colby Lathrop are first-base candidates. Middle infielders include Bissonette, juniors Wyatt Thompson and Griffin Louer, and Ryan Whitcomb. Third-base possibilities include senior Jacob Thomas, junior Max Breault and Nolan Whitcomb.

Burgess is the only player whose primary position is outfield, and Stetson said Hines, Thomas, Breault, Clifford, Roscoe, Lauer and Vichi could all end up chasing fly balls.

“That will have to sort itself out in Florida,” Stetson said. “I don’t have a ton of guys who think they’re outfielders, but obviously there’s going to be some guys who if they hit that’s where they’re going to find themselves.”

Stetson said even with the lineup “pretty wide open,” he expected the Eagle defense to hold its own.

“I think we’ve got a little bit of work to do. I think the potential is there,” he said.

Offensively Stetson said the Eagles should be able to put pressure on opposing teams.

“I think we’re going to put the ball in play, and there are a couple kids who have shown pretty good potential to have gap power,” Stetson said.

And he has been pleased with the Eagles’ approach.

“Their attitudes have been good.

Everybody has been working hard,” Stetson said.

He thinks a winning record is within the Eagles’ grasp.

“And I would say a reasonable goal for us is that come tournament time at the end of the year we’re a pretty good put-together team, and we’re going to be a tough out for anybody to knock us out of the tournament,” Stetson said. “By the end of May and early June I expect us to be a pretty darn good baseball team.”

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Baseball Date Opponent/Event 4/16 Colchester 4/18 Vergennes 4/20 @ Burlington 4/23 @ Middlebury 4/25 Mt. Mansfield 4/27 Missisquoi 4/30 @ BFA Fairfax 5/2 Milton

Time 4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

11 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

11 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Boys’ Lacrosse and senior long-stick middie Nathan Wojciechowski.

Joining the returning low defenders in the starting lineup will most likely be freshman Carmelo Miceli, while senior Kaelen Dopson will rotate through. Junior Alder DonovanCook could also see time in the back, sophomore Aidan Danyow will back up Brokaw, and junior Ethan DeWitt will see time at long-stick middie.

Senior Andrew Morris could also play some at long-stick middie.

“Our defense is going to be really solid with Quincy and Jonas and Carmelo. They’re all really athletic.

Quin and Jonas have had a year together. I think we’re going to sneak up on people at the defensive end,” Cook said.

Of Brokaw, who took over between

the pipes with little experience a year ago, Cook said, “It’s going to be great to having Grady back there. When he’s in the net he’s taking command of the defense. He’s more vocal. He’s more confident, which is what you want in a goalie.”

At midfield four strong players were contending for the first line, seniors Jack Halpin and Andrew Woods, junior Same Schoenhuber and sophomore Griffin Paradee. One will anchor a second unit that could include junior Ryan Lathrop and sophomore Louis Beauchaine. Senior Erik McLysaght and junior Asa Shlansky are penciled in on a third line, with seniors Devon Coleman and Tom Carlton candidates to join them.

Seniors Ryan Rougier and New

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5/6 5/7 5/9 5/14 5/16 5/18 5/21 5/23

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4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

11 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Baseball Team Coach: Jeff Stetson Name Grade Ethan Bissonette 12 Parker Hines 12 Jacob Hoag 12 Jacob Thomas 12 Max Breault 11 Silas Burgess 11 Eben Clifford 11 Jackson Gepfert 11 Griffin Louer 11 Tristin Roscoe 11 Wyatt Thompson 11 Nolan Whitcomb 11 Colby Lathrop 10 Will Vichi 10 Ryan Whitcomb 10

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse Team

Weaver return to anchor the attack, with sophomore Liam Oxford joining them.

Assistant Tim Brokaw is coordinating the offense and said the Eagles are making progress.

“We’re working on our lacrosse IQ and moving the ball and having fun,” Tim Brokaw said. “I’m really impressed with the stick skills we’re demonstrating the first two weeks in the gym. I think the players are excited to get out on the field and compete.”

And that’s what Cook believes the Eagles will do this season. “(Our expectation) is to be competitive in games,” Cook said.

“We’re really young, so we’re going to be moving in the right direction this year and next year.”

Coach: Ed Cook Name Grade Grady Brokaw 12 Tom Carlton 12 Devon Coleman 12 Kaelen Dobson 12 Jack Halpin 12 Erik McLysaght 12 Andrew Morris 12 Ryan Rougier 12 Neo Weaver 12 Nathan Wojciechowski 12 Andrew Woods 12

Ethan DeWitt Alder Donovan-Cook Ryan Lathrop Sam Schoenhuber Jonas Schroeder Asa Shlansky Louis Beauchaine Quincy Cook Aidan Danyow Liam Oxford Griffin Paradee Carmelo Miceli

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse 5/8 @ Lamoille Date Opponent/Event Time 5/11 @ Harwood 4/11 Lamoille 4 p.m.

5/13 Spaulding 4/19 @ Milton 4 p.m.

5/15 Stowe 4/29 U-32 4 p.m.

5/18 @ Otter Valley 5/1 Milton 4 p.m.

5/20 @ U-32 5/4 St. Johnsbury 4:30 p.m.

5/23 @ Montpelier 5/6 Otter Valley 4 p.m.

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11 a.m.

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Addison Independent, Thursday, April 11, 2019 — PAGE 7C

MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION HIGH SCHOOL

Mt. Abe Softball

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — Coach Don McCormick has a tough act to follow, but he’s already done it once already: His Mount Abraham softball teams have won back-toback Division II titles.

Doing so again could be a challenge after the graduation of the Eagles’ starting pitcher, shortstop, second baseman and center fielder — all top-of-the-order hitters.

But McCormick expects Mount Abe softball to contend again.

“I think we’re pretty solid,” McCormick said. “If we’re strictly talking Division II I think we’ll be a top three seed.”

To start with, senior Ruby Ball fared well as the team’s No. 2 pitcher a year ago, while sophomore Camilienne Masse also tossed a few innings in 2018. And McCormick is also high on freshman hurler Cami Willsey.

“It may be the deepest pitching staff we’ve had,” McCormick said.

The Eagles are also stacked behind the plate, with both junior veteran Abigail Hoff and former Vergennes standout Sam Rathbun, a senior who moved into the Mount Abe district.

Willsey could also fill in there.

Senior Cora Funke and the powerhitting Masse are the first basemen.

McCormick said senior Shealyn Layn is ready to step in at second base, while Willsey or even Masse could also see time there.

Senior Jess Murray will take over as the starting shortstop, and senior Erika Tracey is back at third base after a solid 2018. Hoff or Willsey could spot in a third base as McCormick looks ahead to 2020, and senior Molly Murray, sophomore Carissa Livingston, and Ball could

Mt. Abe Track and Field

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — Things will look different this spring for the Mount Abraham track and field team. To start with, Lydia Pitts graduated, taking her 18 indoor and outdoor Division II titles with her. And three other athletes who scored points at the D-II championship meet this past spring also earned their Mount Abe diplomas, including Jackson Counter, who won two throwing golds.

Meanwhile, two new co-head coaches arrived, both Mount Abe graduates — Nathan Reynolds (1992) and Cam Perta (2011).

And Reynolds said they are bringing with them a philosophy that will place a greater emphasis on the good of the whole.

“This is a season we’re looking at as a season of change,” Reynolds said. “There was kind of a spirit of

individualism in the past couple of years. Everybody did their individual events, but it didn’t feel like a team.”

Specifically, Reynolds would like the athletes to consider new events, and more events, other than their preferred specialties. For example, he said sometimes athletes who prefer to sprint might thrive at slightly longer distances.

“This year we’re going to try to push them in a direction that is maybe more beneficial to the team and themselves,” Reynolds said.

Or, for example, one of the team’s returning scorers is senior Oliver Roy, fifth in the D-II boys’ pole vault a year ago. Reynolds said he is also “a phenomenal runner” who could achieve more for the team.

“I think we’re going get some points out of him in the 800, or maybe the 400,” he said.

also fit into the middle infield.

For now, however, Molly Murray will probably start in left field, with Ball possible there as well when she’s not pitching. Junior Addy Harris, a three-sport athlete who hit the ball hard in limited action off the bench last spring, will start in center field. “I can’t wait to see her in center field the next couple years,” McCormick said.

Also in the outfield mix are Rathbun; juniors Justice Green, Riley Mason and Carly Counter, the team’s only lefty swinger; and

sophomore Liz Porter.

McCormick said the Eagles might not demolish the softball the way they did in 2018, but he is high on them at the bat and in the field.

“I think our offense is going to be down slightly, but we’ve got some really good hitters back, too,” he said. “I think our defense is maybe going to be as solid as ever.”

Certainly, he and the Eagles are aiming high.

“We want to win every game,” he said. “That includes the first one and the last one.”

Reynolds would also like to see more consistent effort and attendance for the Eagle relay teams.

“We had a lot of meets where we didn’t compete because we didn’t have enough people there to run it.

The team that we build this year, whether it’s the four fastest of the four that show up most often, we’re going to build a relay team and hopefully put some points on the board,” he said.

Reynolds can cite his own experience with former Mount Abe track coach Al Lunna as one basis for his philosophy. He became a successful distance runner for the school with Lunna’s encouragement.

“I never was a sprinter and always wanted to be a sprinter. But the coach back then told me I was not made for that and I was going to run distance,” Reynolds said, and he ended up competing at 1,500 and 3,000 meters, and “because I agreed to run those I got to run an occasional 800 … and I put points on the board for the team.”

As for this year’s team the other returning scorer is another pole vaulter,

junior Lucy Guy, who finished fourth among D-II girls in 2018. The next best result a year ago among returnees came from junior John Bent, who was ninth in the javelin.

Reynolds believes others could step up, including other throwers, seniors Peter Koenig and Nevin Jemison and sophomore Bridger Counter.

And freshman runners like Noah Engvall and Ruby Markowski did well in the cross-country season.

“I feel like this year we have some really incredible distance runners that have come to us as freshmen,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds also lists his son, sophomore sprinter Branden Reynolds as someone who could emerge at 100 and 200 meters.

He also noted that among the coaches not only he and Perta are Mount Abe graduates, but that description also fits volunteer assistants Todd Goodyear, Meridith McFarland and Carol Weston.

“We’re all invested,” Reynolds said.

Strength in Numbers!`

Stick Together and You will Go Far!!Good Luck area Sports Teams!!

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Mt. Abe Varsity Softball Date Opponent/Event Time 4/16 Colchester 4:30 p.m.

4/18 Vergennes 4:30 p.m.

4/20 @ Burlington 11 a.m.

4/23 @ Middlebury 4:30 p.m.

4/27 Missisquoi 11 a.m.

4/30 @ BFA Fairfax 4:30 a.m.

5/2 Milton 4:30 p.m.

5/6 @ Vergennes 4:30 p.m.

5/7 @ Spaulding 4:30 p.m.

5/9 @ Otter Valley 4:30 p.m.

5/11 Mt.Mansfield 10 a.m.

5/14 @ Missisquoi 4:30 p.m.

5/16 BFA Fairfax 4:30 p.m.

5/18 @ Milton 11 a.m.

5/21 Middlebury 4:30 p.m.

5/23 Spaulding 4:30 p.m.

Mt. Abe Varsity Softball Team Coach: Don McCormick Name Grade Ruby Ball 12 Cora Funke 12 Shealyn Layn 12 Jesslyn Murray 12 Molly Murray 12 Sam Rathbun 12 Erika Tracey 12 Carly Counter 11 Justice Green 11 Addy Harris 11 Abigail Hoff 11 Riley Mason 11 Carissa Livingston 10 Camilienne Masse 10 Liz Porter 10

Mt. Abe Varsity Track & Field 5/14 @ U-32 Fresh/Soph meet 3:30 p.m.

Date Opponent/Event Time 5/15 @ Middlebury 3:30 p.m.

4/12 @ Middlebury 3:30 p.m.

5/21 @ CVU 3:30 p.m.

4/18 @ Burlington 3:30 p.m.

5/25 @ Essex Invitational TBD 5/1 @ Mt. Mansfield 3:30 p.m.

5/29 @ Mt. Mansfield 3:30 p.m.

5/4 @ South Burlington TBD. 6/1 State Championships TBD 5/7 Home Meet 3:30 p.m.

5/11 @ Burlington Invitational TBD Mt. Abe Varsity Track and Field Team Coaches: Nate Reynolds, Cam Perta Emmaline Heilman Name Grade Branden Reynolds Weston Allred 12 Abigail Roy Nevin Jemison 12 Isaiah Szczecinski Peter Koenig 12 Jacob Thomsen Oliver Roy 12 Hannah Zimmer Elizabeth Siminitis 12 Jonathan Armell Jasmine Stalcup 12 Hugh Ball John Bent 11 Eliza Bent Jnana Breck-Arndt 11 Bill Breault Lucy Guy 11 Isaac Clifford Charlotte Layn 11 Kaia Companion Sean Meyer 11 Jade Edwards Roza Stewart 11 Jack Eikenberg Ulysses Suazo 11 Noah Engvall Jack Beauchaine 10 Gavin Kouwenhoven Bridger Counter 10 Ruby Markowski Shea Cravens 10 Tristan Parker Liam Davison 10 Jesse Thomsen Isabella Emmons 10 Forrest Tillotson Sam Forbes 10 Alexander Yaggy Scout Hall 10

Good Luck Teams!

To All Our Area Student Athletes –

Have a Healthy & Fun Season!

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PAGE 8C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 11, 2019

VERGENNES

VUHS

HIGH

SCHOOL

Softball

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — New coach Travis Scribner hopes he can start pointing the Vergennes softball program upward again after its winless 2018 campaign, and he believes the building blocks are in place to do so.

To begin with, Scribner welcomes the second consecutive group of talented freshman into the varsity program. Among the projected starters, two are the team’s only seniors, four are sophomores, and three are freshmen who are veterans of winning middle school and Little League teams.

“The middle school had a real successful season,” he said. “So we’re going to continue to grow.

We have a young team, two seniors and the rest are all freshmen and sophomores.”

Scribner, a 1999 Mount Abraham graduate who wrestled and played baseball there, coached that group for most of the past nine years before throwing his hat in the ring when Mike Martin stepped down as the VUHS varsity coach.

Scribner watched Martin’s crew last year maintain a positive outlook despite its record, and considers that attitude another building block.

“The cohesion is there, lifting each other up, and that’s really what we need to start with as a foundation,”

VUHS

UNION

he said. “Maybe some of that is a product of last season, because you can’t make it through an 0-16 season without lifting each other’s spirits when you need to. It’s a really wonderful group of kids.”

The two seniors who will probably start are second baseman Sydney Tarte and left fielder Cheyenne Jewett, who could also toss a few innings on the mound.

But Scribner will hand the ball first to freshman Sierra Bertrand, with sophomore Ema Gernander also available. Bertrand fared well in middle school, Scribner said, and should thrive under the tutelage of former VUHS and Castleton University ace Taylor Paquette.

“She’s here working with our pitchers a few nights a week, and she’ll be at games. So we have the right person here to help the girls coming up to advance in that department,” he said.

Sophomore Karrie Ayer will handle the bulk of the catching, and freshman Felicia Poirier will line up at first base, with Bertrand also possible there.

Freshman Audrey Tembreull is the shortstop, and Gernander will start at third, Scribner said. Sophomore Jordan Norris can back up third base but will probably start in right field, while freshman Ella Hameline is available at middle infield, but can

Track and Field

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — There’s little doubt the Vergennes track and field team will make its mark at the Division III championship meet later this spring.

After all, the athletes who won four titles at the D-II indoor meet in February are all running for the Commodores this spring.

Senior Wade Mullin won at 600 meters back in February at the University of Vermont, and anchored the Commodores’ winning four-by-

800-meter and 4x400 teams, while sophomore Ben Huston claimed the 1,000-meter crown. They will stretch out to 800 and 1,500 meters, respectively, this spring.

Mullin and Huston ran together on the 4x800 team along with junior Erich Reitz and sophomore Gabe Praamsma to set a D-II record in February, and Mullin joined with seniors Ezekiel Palmer and Spencer Hurlburt and sophomore Xander DeBlois to win the 4x400.

Coach Brad Castillo thinks a

also play the outfield.

Scribner expects sophomore Jordan Kimball to start in center field, while sophomores Chloe Mailloux and Bethany Cram and freshman Audrey Scribner will also see time in the outfield.

Scribner said he will bring “high-paced, high-energy coaching style,” and that he has enjoyed his time coaching many of younger Commodores.

“It’s kind of an unfinished business with these kids, following them up through, and it’s been a great experience for me, and hopefully for them as well,” he said. “Ultimately

the girls are why I coach, to give them the most positive softball experience that they can have at their time at VUHS. That’s really what the common goal should be.”

That said, Scribner also expects the Commodores to gradually become more competitive this year and beyond.

“We’ll see how this season goes.

We know we have a lot of work to do. But we may surprise some people with the crop of freshman coming up,” he said. “They put a lot of work in in the offseason, too, to get better as well. So hopefully that will show up on the diamond.”

VUHS Varsity Softball Date Opponent/Event Time 4/11 @ CVU 4:30 p.m.

4/13 Middlebury 11 a.m.

4/16 BFA Fairfax 4:30 p.m.

4/18 @ Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

4/20 Randolph 11 a.m.

4/30 @ Missisquoi 4:30 p.m.

5/2 Spaulding 4:30 p.m.

5/4 @ Milton 4 p.m.

5/6 Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

5/7 @ Harwood 4:30 p.m.

5/9 @ BFA Fairfax 4:30 p.m.

5/14 @ Middlebury 4:30 p.m.

5/16 Missisquoi 4:30 p.m.

5/18 @ Spaulding 11 a.m.

5/21 Milton 4:30 p.m.

5/23 Fair Haven 4:30 p.m.

number of other VUHS runners — and maybe some from among a trio of throwers — could also contribute to the team’s point total at the D-III meet.

“I’m happy with the way things are going right now. Everyone seems excited and ready to capitalize on the successful indoor season,” Castillo said. “We’ve got a chance at a few (titles), and everyone’s coming in ready to go.”

On the boys’ side Praamsma and Reitz ran 5-6 in the 1,000 in the winter, while Praamsma was sixth at 1,500 meters, with Reitz right on his heels.

And in the 2018 D-III title meet Palmer was sixth at 400 meters, and

junior Josias Salomao was 10th in the 100.

On the girls’ side this winter senior Cedar Winslow was fourth at 300 meters and seventh at 55, while senior Ashley Cray was sixth at 1,500 meters and fifth in the 3,000, with classmate Marin Howell on her heels in sixth.

In the spring of 2018 senior Olivia Hawkins was 10th in the high jump.

Two runners also return from the girls’ 4x100 team that was sixth in 2018, Winslow and junior Amber Krumrie. And reinforcements have arrived for that team: Senior Ciara McClay and freshman Rhode Miguel, who will also, like Winslow and Krumrie, run the 100 and 200.

That quartet has potential in the relay, Castillo said, and he will work with the newcomers on relay techniques.

“I’m putting a lot of eggs in the four-by-one basket,” he said.

Throwers have been rare at VUHS, but three seniors have signed up for both javelin and shot put: Emma Bryant, Maddy Smith and Gabe Quinto. Castillo said early results have been promising, even if he would like to find a specialist to help coach them.

“For the lack of throwing coaching I’ve done, we’re learning it all together. Even now they’re throwing it close to state qualifying distances,” he said. “We’re figuring it all out at the same time, and it’s been nice to see some aha moments.”

In all, Castillo expects the Commodores to enjoy the season and end up holding some hardware.

“I went into the indoor season with the idea we could win four, and we did it somehow,” Castillo said. “I think we can win four again, and we can make things harder for those bigger teams.

And we’re so well rounded right now with somebody covering most of the

Good Luck Teams!

Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success.

Author Unknown

Vergennes Union High School Varsity Softball Team Coach: Travis Scribner Name Grade Cheyenne Jewett 12 Sydney Tarte 12 Karrie Ayer 10 Bethany Cram 10 Ema Gernander 10 Jordan Kimball 10 Chloe Mailloux 10 Jordan Norris 10 Sierra Bertrand 9 Ella Hameline 9 Felicia Poirier 9 Audrey Scribner 9 Audrey Tembreull 9

events we can score some points.”

And he expects to enjoy the season, but at the same time agreed it will be sad to know it will be the last for a senior class that has meant so much to the program.

“It will be very bittersweet,” Castillo said. “I’m going to love every second of that state meet. I’m also going to hate every second of that state meet.”

VUHS Varsity Track & Field Date Opponent/Event Time 4/12 @ Middlebury 3:30 p.m.

4/16 @ CVU 3:30 p.m.

5/1 @ Essex 3:30 p.m.

5/4 @ South Burlington 3:30 p.m.

5/8 @ Milton 3:30 p.m.

5/11 @ Burlington Invitational 9 a.m.

5/15 @ Middlebury 3:30 p.m.

5/21 @ CVU 3:30 p.m.

5/25 @ Essex Invitational 1 p.m.

6/1 @ DII State Championships TBD

Vergennes Union High SchoolVarsity Track Team & Field Coach: Brad Castillo Amber Krumrie 11 Josias Salomao Name Grade BOYS: Xander DeBlois GIRLS: Spencer Hurlburt 12 Ashton Greenia Emma Bryant 12 Wade Mullin 12 Ben Huston Ashley Cray 12 Ezekiel Palmer 12 Jarret Muzzy Marin Howell 12 Gabe Quinto 12 Gabe Praamsma Olivia Hutchins 12 Ira White 12 Alisdair Chauvin Ciara McClay 12 Luke Bergmans 12 Rhode Miguel Maddie Smith 12 Erich Reitz 11 Chris Therrien Cedar Winslow 12

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Addison Independent, Thursday, April 11, 2019 — PAGE 9C

VERGENNES

VUHS

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — Coach Dwight Burkett’s Vergennes baseball program is coming off a five-win season, but not a discouraging one: The Commodores closed with three wins in five outings, including a first-round playoff victory in 2018.

A few key cogs from that squad have moved on, but Burkett in the preseason said he saw a group with talent and the right attitude to gel as the spring progressed.

“We could have a solid team.

We’ve just got some holes to fill, but the one thing I do like about this team is I feel a real strong work ethic,” Burkett said. “They take coaching well. They understand it’s not criticism. And they reach inside and find a way to make it better. That makes my job a lot easier.”

Two players who return will be the Stearns brothers, junior Jeff, who is back for his third year starting behind the plate, and sophomore Tucker, who projects as the team’s No. 1 pitcher and shortstop.

Burkett called the elder Stearns “a rock back there” behind the plate, and said Tucker Stearns has been thriving under the pitching tutelage of former VUHS and Castleton State all-star Devin Hayes, now a Middlebury College assistant.

“He’s really done a great job with Tucker,” Burkett said.

Baseball Sophomore Barrett Barrows, who Burkett said also worked hard in the offseason to improve, slots in at No. 2 in the rotation, with senior Cooper O’Brien and junior Aidan Gardner the top candidates to round out what could be a deep pitching rotation.

“The potential is there,” Burkett said, adding juniors Jake Russell, Zeke Clark and sophomore Jarret Muzzy are also likely to toss some innings.

O’Brien will probably start at first, Jake Russell ready to step in. Russell will also back up at catcher and could line up in the outfield, Burkett said, and should see plenty of time.

Muzzy is the likely starter at second base, with Barrows at third.

Junior Robbie Bicknell could also play middle infield, as could Clark or sophomore Jeremiah Moulton. All could be in the mix when Stearns, Barrows or Muzzy head to the mound.

Burkett was leaning toward Gardner in center and sophomore Xander DeBlois in left, noting that both cover plenty of ground. Russell and Bicknell are candidates for right field, as are seniors Austin Goodell and Ira White.

Burkett didn’t get into predicting wins and losses, but was happy to say he was confident a group that should be largely together this spring and next would be ready to give an

UNION

Vergennes Union High School Baseball Team Coach: Dwight Burkett Name Grade Austin Goodell 12 Cooper O’Brien 12 Ira White 12 Robbie Bicknell 11 Zeke Clark 11 Aidan Gardner 11 Jeffrey Stearns 11 Barret Barrows 10 Xander DeBlois 10 Jeremiah Moulton 10 Jarret Muzzy 10 Jake Russell 10 Tucker Stearns 10 Vergennes Union High School Varsity Baseball Date Opponent/Event Time 4/11 Rice 4:30 p.m.

4/13 Middlebury 11 a.m.

4/16 BFA Fairfax 4:30 p.m.

4/18 @ Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

4/22 @ Twinfield 4:30 p.m.

4/30 @ Missisquoi 4:30 p.m.

5/2 Spaulding 4:30 p.m.

5/4 @ Milton 4 p.m.

5/6 Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

5/7 @ Harwood 4:30 p.m.

5/9 @ BFA Fairfax 4:30 p.m.

5/11 Richford 11 a.m.

5/14 @ Middlebury 4:30 p.m.

5/16 Missisquoi 4:30 p.m.

5/18 @ Spaulding 11 a.m.

5/21 Milton 4:30 p.m.

honest effort each time out.

“I’m cautiously optimistic. I think we’ve got a pretty solid club,” he said. “You’ve got a core of good, blue-collar kids that want to play the game better. So that’s really all you can ask for as a coach.”

VUHS

HIGH

SCHOOL

Girls’ Lacrosse

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — The VergennesMount Abraham cooperative girls’ lacrosse program, which plays at VUHS and wears Commodore blue, is entering its third season at the varsity level after showing progress in year two. In 2018 the Commodores jumped from one win in their debut season to four victories a year ago after an influx of young talent.

Coach Marikate Kelley hopes history will repeat itself with another group of freshmen joining the program, most of whom played on a league championship middle school team in 2018. They will blend in with team that she said gained important varsity time this past spring.

“We’ve got a bunch of ninthgraders with some good lacrosse experience coming in. We’ve kind of shifted the tone in the past three years so people understand what it’s like to be on a varsity program,” Kelley said. “I’m really excited to see how it all shapes up.”

It remains a young team, with only two seniors: team leader and midfielder Jalen Cook and backup goalie Lilly Goodyear. Of the other 14 on the roster, only three are juniors, the versatile duo of Emma Beauchemin and Leah Croke, and Siobhan Eagan, who will see time on the attack.

But Kelley notes many of the six

sophomores and five freshmen have played other varsity sports as well as plenty of lacrosse.

“It’s a really young team. But for a young team they seem to understand what it’s like to play at a varsity level,” she said. “It’s nice to have some kids coming in who have experienced that.”

Starting in the back, sophomore Ashley Tierney returns in goal.

Kelley was leaning toward starting Beauchemin on defense to anchor the back line, and Croke could play there, too. Two other sophomores are defenders, Hannah Kelly and Savannah Scrodin, although Kelly could also line up at attack. Two freshmen, Txuza Konczal and Elena Bronson, round out the defensive corps, with Bronson also a possibility to move up front.

Cook will be a mainstay at midfield, along with most likely Croke and freshman Grace Harvey and Molly Laurent.

The attack features Eagan; sophomores Harriet Anderson, Marley Keith and Sophie Davis; and freshman Ryley Olsen, with Kelly and Bronson ready to join in.

Asked what the positives of the group were, Kelley noted that 11 of the athletes broke seven minutes in a mile run, and several others were close behind.

“We’ve got some good speed

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VUHS Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Team Coach: Marikate Kelley Name Grade Jalen Cook 12 Lilly Goodyear 12 Emma Beauchemin 11 Leah Croke 11 Siobhan Eagan 11 Harriet Anderson 10 Sophie Davis 10 Marley Keith 10 Hannah Kelly 10 Savannah Scrodin 10 Ashley Tierney 10 Elena Bronson 9 Txuxa Konczal 9 Grace Harvey 9 Molly Laurent 9 Ryley Olsen 9 VUHS Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Date Opponent/Event Time 4/10 U-32 4:30 p.m.

4/13 Hartford 4:30 p.m.

4/15 Lamoille 4:30 p.m.

4/17 @ Hartford 4:30 p.m.

4/20 @ Milton 11 a.m.

4/30 @ Stowe 4:30 p.m.

5/3 @ U-32 4:30 p.m.

5/9 @ Lamoille 4:30 p.m.

5/13 Essex 4:30 p.m.

5/15 Harwood 11 a.m.

5/17 Milton 4:30 p.m.

5/21 @ Harwood 4:30 p.m.

5/23 GMVS 4:30 p.m.

and stamina. And then I think we’re getting better at catching and passing the ball,” she said. “I think along with the speed and endurance we have some kids who are really aggressive. They’re going hard at those loose balls.”

To sum up, Kelley expects more progress from the program.

“We’ll be stronger this year than we were last year,” she said. “I’ve got a lot of kids who worked hard in the offseason to get better. And then we’ve got some freshmen who are going to make a difference right away.”

PAGE 10C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 11, 2019

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