ADDISON COUNTY INDEPENDENT
B Section
THURSDAY, Â MAY Â 14, Â 2015
MATT DICKERSON
Even  as  weather  changes,  the  joy  RI ÂżVKLQJ GRHVQÂśW 7KLUWHHQ GD\V HDUOLHU RQ WKH ÂżQDO weekend  of  April,  the  water  tempera- ture  in  the  lower  Middlebury  River  ZDV D PHUH GHJUHHV ,W ZDV GHÂż- QLWHO\ VWLOO HDUO\ VSULQJ ÂżVKLQJ FRQ- ditions  with  sluggish  trout  and  only  minimal  aquatic  insect  activity.  On  this  past  Friday  afternoon,  however,  after  a  week  of  temperatures  ranging  from  the  upper  70s  to  nearly  90,  the  water  had  soared  all  the  way  up  to  62  degrees  —  a  temperature  I  have  never  before  seen  or  even  imagined  in  a  Vermont  riv- HU LQ WKH ÂżUVW KDOI of  May,  and  one  of  the  most  dra- matic  tempera- ture  rises  I’d  ever  witnessed  in  the  Middlebury  River.  It  had  gone  from  below  the  bottom  of  a  trout’s  active  range  up  close  to  the  top.  As  I  used  a  brief  40-Âminute  window  of  free  time  in  the  late  afternoon  to  stand  in  the  ULYHU DQG FDVW D Ă€\ WKH VXUIDFH RI WKH water  was  alive  with  insects  —  most- O\ PLGJHV EXW DOVR VRPH VWRQHĂ€LHV DQG HDUO\ VHDVRQ PD\Ă€LHV (See  Dickerson,  Page  4B)
ScoreBOARD
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Girls’ Lacrosse 5/11  Essex  at  MUHS  ............................ 3SG Boys’ Lacrosse 5/11  U-Â32  at  Mt.  Abe  ................. 3SG WR 5/12  VUHS  vs.  OV  .......................... 27
6 %XUOLQJWRQ YV 08+6  ................... Softball 29 YV :LQGVRU  ................................9-Â7 0LOWRQ YV 08+6  ..............................9-Â8 5/12  VUHS  vs.  Mt.  Abe  ............................ Baseball :LQGVRU DW 29  .................... 6XVS
0LOWRQ YV 08+6  ............................ 5/12  Mt.  Abe  vs.  VUHS  ............................4-Â3 /HODQG *UD\ YV 29  ....................15-Â4 Tennis 08+6 *LUOV YV 6SDXOGLQJ  ...............4-Â0
SPORTS
ALSO IN THIS SECTION:
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Eagle nine ekes out a 4-Â3 victory over VUHS
5LYDOV VKRZ JRRG SLWFKLQJ VWURQJ SOD\ By  ANDY  KIRKALDY %5,672/ ² 7KH XQRIÂżFLDO Addison  County  high  school  baseball  crown  this  year  goes  to  Mount  Abraham,  who  on  Tues- day  completed  a  sweep  of  their  local  rivals  by  holding  on  to  edge  improving  Vergennes,  4-Â3.  The  Eagles  (4-Â7)  had  earlier  blanked  both  Otter  Valley  and  Middlebury,  both  behind  the  pitching  of  Tuesday’s  complete- JDPH ZLQQHU VHQLRU 0LNH -H- rome.  -HURPH VHYHQ LQQLQJV WKUHH earned  runs  on  six  hits  and  four  walks,  nine  strikeouts)  outdueled  Commodore  sophomore  Hunter  2Âś&RQQRU ZKR LQ ÂżYH LQQLQJV allowed  four  runs,  three  earned,  on  four  hits  and  four  walks  while  also  striking  out  nine. “It  was  a  good  high  school  game,â€?  said  Mount  Abe  coach  -HII 6WHWVRQ Âł%RWK SLWFKHUV WKUHZ real  well,  I  thought.â€? VUHS  coach  Dwight  Burkett,  whose  2-Â8  team  had  defeated  Middlebury  on  May  5,  was  disap- pointed  to  come  out  on  the  short  end,  but  happy  to  see  the  Com- VERGENNES  UNION  HIGH  School  catcher  Chris  Leach  is  knocked  head-Âover-Âheels  after  colliding  at  modores  continue  to  improve.  home  plate  with  Eagle  Chris  Wood  in  Bristol  Tuesday. (See  Baseball,  Page  4B) Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell
Schedule
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Girls’ Lacrosse 5/15  MUHS  at  Mt.  Anthony  ............4:30  p.m. 0W 0DQVÂżHOG DW 08+6  .............11  a.m. 08+6 DW %XUU %XUWRQ  ..............4  p.m. 08+6 DW 6W $OEDQV  ...............4:30  p.m. 5/22  MUHS  at  CVU  .......................4:30  p.m. Boys’ Lacrosse 08+6 DW 6SDXOGLQJ  ....................4  p.m. 5/15  VUHS  at  U-Â32  .............................4  p.m. :RRGVWRFN DW 29  ........................4  p.m. %XUOLQJWRQ DW 0W $EH  ................11  a.m. 5/18  MUHS  at  Stowe  ..........................4  p.m. 0LOWRQ DW 98+6  ...........................4  p.m. 5/19  MUHS  at  Essex  ..........................4  p.m. 0W 0DQVÂżHOG DW 08+6  ...............4  p.m. /DPRLOOH DW 0W $EH  .....................4  p.m. 98+6 DW +DUZRRG  ......................4  p.m. 5/22  CVU  at  MUHS  ............................4  p.m. 5/23  VUHS  at  Mt.  Abe  ........................4  p.m. 5/23  OV  at  St.  Johnsbury  ...................4  p.m. 8 DW 0W $EH  ...........................4  p.m. Softball 6 %XUOLQJWRQ DW 0W $EH  .........4:30  p.m. 5/14  N.  Country  at  VUHS  ..............4:30  p.m.
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Tiger  tennis  teams  blank  Spaulding By  ANDY  KIRKALDY MIDDDLEBURY  —  The  Middle- bury  Union  High  School  girls’  ten- nis  team  blanked  host  Spaulding  on  Monday,  4-Â0,  in  a  rain-Âshortened  match,  while  the  Tiger  boys’  team  did  the  same  in  a  4-Â0  home  match  vs.  the  Tide.   The  Tiger  girls  improved  to  8-Â1  with  the  result.  They  were  scheduled  to  host  North  Country  on  Wednesday  and  are  set  to  visit  Harwood  on  Friday.  The  Tiger  boys,  who  posted  their  second  victory  of  the  spring,  were  set  to  visit  North  Country  on  Wednesday  and  will  host  Harwood  on  Friday.  All  matches  are  at  3:30  p.m. In  individual  matches  for  the  Tiger  girls  on  Monday: ‡ $W 1R VLQJOHV 0DUYLH $YHU\ M,  defeated  Lizzie  Tchautouridze,  6-Â4,  6-Â2. ‡ $W 1R VLQJOHV %UHH &RWURQHR M,  defeated  Whitney  Renaud,  5-Â7,  6-Â1  (10-Â2).  ‡ $W 1R VLQJOHV -HVVH :XOI- man,  M,  defeated  Emily  Boisvert,  6-Â2,  6-Â4. ‡ $W 1R VLQJOHV )DLWK ,VKDP 0 OHG 6KHOE\ -HZHWW ‡ $W 1R VLQJOHV +DQQDK 6WROO M,  trailed  Abby  Savoie,  0-Â2. (See  Tenenis,  Page  2B)
Sinclair  returns  to  coach  Panther  hockey  program MIDDLEBURY  —  Neil  Sinclair,  a  1993  Middlebury  College  graduate  and  former  Panther  hockey  All-ÂAmer- ican,  was  named  on  Tuesday  as  the  coach  of  the  Middlebury  men’s  hockey  program,  replacing  longtime  program  head  Bill  Beaney,  who  recently  retired.  Sinclair  comes  to  Middlebury  from  Skidmore,  where  he  has  served  in  the  same  role  for  the  past  10  seasons.  Sin- clair  also  served  as  Middlebury’s  in- terim  head  coach  in  2002–2003  after  serving  three  seasons  as  an  assistant  coach  for  Beaney.  Sinclair  is  just  the  fourth  men’s  hockey  coach  at  Middle- bury  since  1946. “We  are  thrilled  to  have  Neil  Sin- clair  as  the  next  head  men’s  ice  hockey  coach  at  Middlebury  College,â€?  said  Di- rector  of  Athletics  Erin  Quinn.  “Neil’s  experiences  both  as  a  player  and  coach  at  Middlebury,  along  with  his  growth  as  a  coach  at  Skidmore,  have  prepared  him  well  to  return  to  Middlebury.  The  VWXGHQW DWKOHWHV ZLOO EHQHÂżW IURP KLV coaching  expertise  and  leadership  on  the  ice,  in  the  classroom,  and  in  the  community.â€? Sinclair  said  he  was  thrilled  to  be  back.  “I  am  honored  for  this  opportunity  to  work  at  Middlebury  College  and  coach  the  men’s  ice  hockey  program,â€?  said  Sinclair.  “As  a  hockey  alumnus,  I  know  the  history  of  the  program  and  (See  Sinclair,  Page  3B)
Host  men’s  tennis  prevails  in  NCAAs MOUNT  ABRAHAM  UNION  High  School  senior  Ernie  Brouillard  turns  a  double  play  while  avoiding  sliding  Commodore  Dustin  Hirtle  Tuesday  afternoon  in  Bristol.  The  Eagles  won  the  game,  4-Â3. Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell
(See  Schedule,  Page  3B)
VUHS  softball  bests  Eagles;Íž  OV  also  wins ADDISON  COUNTY  —  The  Ver- vs.  Winooski  and  Burlington  early  gennes  softball  team  kept  a  winning  in  the  season  have  been  declared  streak  alive  at  Mount  Abraham’s  ex- forfeits  in  the  Commodores’  fa- pense  to  highlight  recent  local  high  vor.  VUHS  hosts  North  Country  on  school  softball  and  baseball  play  Thursday.  earlier  this  week. Meanwhile,  the  Eagles  In  other  games,  Otter  Val- dropped  to  5-Â6  with  their  ley  edged  both  visiting  fourth  straight  setback.  Windsor  and  an  oncom- Ashley  Boise  led  the  ing  thunderstorm,  Mid- SOFTBALL Mount  Abe  attack  by  dlebury  softball  dropped  & BASEBALL doubling  home  two  runs  another  extra-Âinnings  Wrap-Up and  adding  a  single  and  heartbreaker,  and  the  a  walk.  Rachael  McCor- OV  and  MUHS  baseball  teams  came  mick  went  the  distance  in  taking  the  up  short.  pitching  loss.  The  Eagles  host  South  The  Eagle  baseball  team  also  host- Burlington  on  Thursday.  ed  VUHS;Íž  see  story  on  Page  1B.  OV  SOFTBALL EAGLE-ÂVUHS  SOFTBALL On  Monday,  the  Otter  softball  On  Tuesday,  the  Commodores  team  outlasted  visiting  Windsor  topped  host  Mount  Abe  softball,  6-Â3,  in  six  innings,  9-Â7,  as  Amy  Jones  for  their  third  straight  win.  Tamara  slugged  two  homers  and  Laura  Aunchman  sparked  VUHS  with  Beth  Roberts  went  four-Âfor-Âfour.  ¿YH LQQLQJV RI WZR KLW KLW SLWFKLQJ Hannah  Williams  went  the  distance  and  by  driving  in  two  runs  with  a  for  the  pitching  win.  Her  fourth  and  pair  of  hits.  ¿QDO VWULNHRXW FDPH ZLWK WKH EDVHV Nicole  Stearns  also  tripled  for  the  loaded  and  two  outs  in  the  top  of  the  Commodores,  who  took  charge  with  VL[WK MXVW EHIRUH RIÂżFLDOV VXVSHQGHG ($*/( 3,7&+(5 5$&+$(/ 0F&RUPLFN SLFNV XS D EXQW DQG WKURZV WR ÂżUVW GXULQJ 7XHVGD\ÂśV JDPH DJDLQVW ÂżYH UXQV LQ WKH WKLUG LQQLQJ 98+6 the  game  due  to  bad  weather.  OV  Vergennes. is  now  5-Â5,  as  two  games  scheduled  (See  Softball,  Page  3B) Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell
MIDDLEBURY  —  The  host  Mid- dlebury  College  men’s  tennis  team  on  Sunday  defeated  Bowdoin,  5-Â3,  in  DQ 1&$$ 'LYLVLRQ ,,, 5HJLRQDO ÂżQDO HDUQLQJ D EHUWK LQ D TXDUWHUÂżQDO PDWFK next  week.  The  20-Â3  Panthers  will  meet  No.  7  Trinity  (Texas)  in  an  Elite  Eight  match- up  to  be  played  on  Monday  in  Mason,  Ohio.  They  have  reached  the  NCAA  TXDUWHUÂżQDO URXQG LQ RI WKH SDVW years,  winning  titles  twice.  The  Polar  %HDUV ÂżQLVKHG WKHLU VHDVRQ DW Middlebury  took  a  2-Â1  advantage  in  doubles  play.  The  Polar  Bears  grabbed  their  doubles  point  at  No.  3,  when  Noah  Bragg  and  Kyle  Wolfe  recorded  an  8-Â6  win  over  William  de  Quant  and  Chris  Frost.  Middlebury’s  Ari  Smolyar  and  Noah  Farrell  evened  things  up,  topping  Kyle  Wolstencroft  and  Gil  Roddy  in  the  No.  2  slot,  8-Â5.  In  the  WRS Ă€LJKW 3DQWKHUV 3HWHU +HLGULFK DQG Palmer  Campbell  tallied  a  9-Â7  victory  against  Luke  Trinka  and  Luke  Tercek. In  singles,  the  Polar  Bears  tied  the  match  at  2-Â2  when  Tercek  earned  a  YLFWRU\ DW 1R RYHU -DFN- son  Frons.  The  host  Panthers  grabbed  a  3-Â2  lead  when  Smolyar  picked  up  a  6-Â4,  6-Â1  win  in  the  top  spot  over  Trin- ka.  Bowdoin’s  Gil  Roddy  squared  the  score  at  3-Â3  with  a  6-Â2,  6-Â2  win  over  Kyle  Schlanger  in  the  No.  6  slot. The  Panthers  jumped  ahead  for  good  when  Farrell  notched  a  6-Â3,  6-Â3  victory  in  the  No.  2  slot  over  Bowdoin’s  Noah  Bragg,  and  de  Quant  clinched  the  match  for  Middlebury  at  No.  5  via  a  6-Â3,  7-Â5  win  against  Wolstencroft.