ADDISON COUNTY INDEPENDENT
B Section
THURSDAY, Â MAY Â 22, Â 2014
MATT DICKERSON
SPORTS
ALSO IN THIS SECTION:
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Finding  familiarity  in  change  we  see 0D\ , VWDQG ZDGLQJ LQ WKH 1HZ Haven  River.  There  may  be  no  such  thing  as  a  stereotypical  Vermont  May  day.  I’ve  seen  snow  squalls  as  late  as  Memorial  Day,  and  temperatures  in  the  80s  before  the  start  of  turkey  season.  It  can  cloud  over  and  rain  for  a  week,  and  we  can  see  nothing  but  sunshine  for  a  whole  month.  Or  we  can  see  all  four  of  the  above  in  the  span  of  four  days.  Still,  today  is  my  image  of  a  classic  —  and  I  might  even  say  perfect  —  May  day  in  my  home  state.  The  sky  is  unadulterated  blue.  The  air  tem- perature  is  still  in  the  50s.  Within  a  couple  hours,  however,  it  will  be  10  GHJUHHV ZDUPHU 6QRZ PHOW LV RYHU H[- cept  in  a  few  sheltered  hollows  along  the  Long  Trail.  The  river  is  running  clear  and  low  enough  to  be  easily  wad- ed,  but  high  enough  I  might  consider  venturing  down  in  a  canoe  for  another  week  or  two  at  least.  I  check  the  water  temperature.  My  stream  thermometer  reads  just  short  of  55.  Perfect  for  trout.  Which  is  what  I  had  hoped  for,  and  why  I  am  standing  in  the  river  with  my  À\ URG 7KH ULYHU LV QRW \HW IXOO RI WURXW After  what  we  all  know  —  and  know  all  too  well  —  has  been  a  long  drawn  out  winter,  this  late-Âarrived  spring  has  been  a  good  one  for  wild  trout.  The  state  trout  stocking  efforts,  however,  are  well  behind  the  usual  schedule.  According  to  the  Vermont  Fish  and  Wildlife  home  page,  neither  the  lower  New  Haven  nor  the  lower  Middlebury  rivers  have  received  their  annual  in- jection  of  hatchery-Âraised  brown  and  rainbow  trout.  So  despite  near-Âperfect  FRQGLWLRQV ÂżVKLQJ LV VORZ Still  it  is  good  to  be  out  here.  It  has  (See  Dickerson,  Page  4B)
Tiger  nine  drops  two,  now  at  6-Â5 MIDDLEBURY  —  The  Middle- bury  Union  High  School  baseball  team  dropped  a  pair  of  home  games  earlier  this  week  and  saw  its  record  dip  to  6-Â5.  On  Monday,  visiting  North  Country  LPSURYHG WR ZLWK D ZLQ RYHU the  Tigers.  Aaron  Smith  absorbed  the  pitching  loss,  while  Matt  Dunton  and  Josh  Stearns  had  a  pair  of  hits  apiece  for  MUHS. On  Tuesday,  visiting  Champlain  9DOOH\ LPSURYHG WR ZLWK D victory  over  MUHS.  Stearns  provided  the  Tiger  highlights  with  two  more  hits,  including  a  double.  The  Tigers  will  be  looking  to  bounce  back  when  they  host  (weather  permit- ting)  Missisquoi  on  Thursday  and  visit  Burlington  on  Saturday. Â
ScoreBOARD
JUNIOR  ETHAN  GENDREAU  catches  for  the  Mount  Abraham  Eagles  during  Tuesday’s  game  against  Rice.  The  Eagles  lost  the  game,  19-Â3. Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell
Rice  bats  hot  in  win  at  Mount  Abe Eagles’  effort  not  being  rewarded
not  everything  has  come  together  at  the  same  time,  at  least  not  yet,  Stet- son  said.  “One  day  we  don’t  make  enough  By  ANDY  KIRKALDY plays  defensively.  One  day  we  don’t  BRISTOL  —  The  Rice  baseball  hit  the  ball  at  all,â€?  he  said.  “We  had  team  came  to  Mount  Abraham  Union  our  opportunities  last  week  on  Fri- High  School  on  Tuesday  as  the  win- day  to  come  up  with  a  big  win,  and  ner  of  four  straight,  while  the  Eagles  FRXOGQÂśW ÂżQLVK LW ´ entered  the  game  on  a  And  some  days  you  three-Âgame  slide,  includ- “They just hit just  have  to  tip  your  hat  ing  allowing  Otter  Valley  the ball well to  your  opponents.  That’s  to  rally  for  a  win  on  the  what  Stetson  said  he  told  today from previous  Friday.  the  Eagles  after  Tuesday.  Unfortunately  for  beginning to “The  message  is  it’s  one  Coach  Jeff  Stetson’s  end. I didn’t of  those  days  where  they  squad,  those  trends  did  feel like we hit  everything  we  threw  not  reverse  on  Tuesday  —  made glaring up  there,  and  there’s  go- Rice  pounded  out  16  hits  ing  to  be  days  like  that.  defensive off  four  pitchers,  scored  And  we  just  have  to  make  UXQV LQ WKH ÂżUVW WZR mistakes that sure  we  keep  working  innings,  and  improved  extended hard,â€?  he  said. WR ZLWK D VL[ innings. Some  of  the  damage  inning  victory. Rice  did  on  Tuesday  was  It’s just “They  just  hit  the  ball  everything courtesy  of  two  senior  well  today  from  begin- Addison  County  athletes.  ning  to  end,â€?  Stetson  we threw, Second  baseman  Timmy  said.  “I  didn’t  feel  like  we  they hit.â€? Shea,  a  former  Vergennes  — Coach Union  baseball  player  and  made  glaring  defensive  Jeff Stetson Middlebury  Union  hock- PLVWDNHV WKDW H[WHQGHG LQ- nings.  It’s  just  everything  ey  player,  singled  twice  we  threw,  they  hit.â€? to  drive  in  three  runs,  doubled  twice  The  good  news  for  his  team,  Stet- DQG VFRUHG WZLFH /HIW ÂżHOGHU -RQDV son  said,  is  that  their  3-Â9  record  is  not  Hastings,  a  former  MUHS  baseball  due  to  a  lack  of  effort.  and  football  player,  singled  twice  “I’ve  got  to  give  the  kids  credit,â€?  and  drove  in  a  run. he  said.  “They  come  out  to  practice  5LFH VFRUHG VL[ UXQV LQ WKH ÂżUVW RII every  day,  still  working  very  hard,  Eagle  ace  Sawyer  Kamman,  who  un- EAGLE  SENIOR  Aaron  Benway  gets  under  a  foul  pop  during  Tues- still  positive  attitudes.â€? characteristically  struggled  with  his  day’s  game  against  Rice. Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell (See  Baseball,  Page  2B) But  in  the  short  Vermont  season, Â
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Lax:  Tiger  boys  win;Íž  MUHS  girls,  Eagles  split ADDISON  COUNTY  —  In  recent  high  school  lacrosse  action,  the  Mount  Abraham  boys  split  a  pair  of  contests,  including  a  win  over  Otter  Valley;Íž  the  Middlebury  boys  won  on  the  road;Íž  the  MUHS  girls  split  two  games;Íž  and  the  Vergennes  boys  lost  a  tight  contest  on  the  road.  EAGLES  VS.  OV On  May  15,  the  Eagles  bested  vis- LWLQJ 29 DV ÂżYH SOD\HUV VFRUHG two  goals  apiece:  Matt  George,  Owein  LaBarr,  Gus  Catlin,  Lucas  Richter  and  Dylan  Weaver  each  had  two.  Whit  Lower,  Tyler  Willey  and  Cobie  Badger  added  goals,  and  goalie  Tucker  Paradee  stopped  seven  shots.  For  OV  (1-Â11),  Colton  Leno,  Colin  Eugair,  and  Will  Ross  found  the  net,  and  Carson  Leary  denied  13  shots. On  May  16,  host  Burlington  defeat- HG WKH (DJOHV Charlie  Meyer  scored  twice,  Catlin  and  Richter  added  a  goal  apiece,  and  Paradee  posted  11  saves  as  the  Eagles  fell  to  .500  at  5-Â5.  TIGER  BOYS On  Tuesday,  the  Tigers  topped  vis- (See  Lacrosse,  Page  3B)
Sports BRIEFS
Local  athletes  get  college  honors
CASTLETON  —  The  North  At- lantic  Conference  (NAC)  has  named  two  local  Castleton  State  College  student-Âathletes  to  its  All-ÂConfer- ence  teams. Brandi  Whittemore  of  Whiting  was  named  to  the  NAC  Women’s  Lacrosse  All-ÂConference  Team. Ryan  Crowningshield  of  Addison  was  named  to  the  NAC  Men’s  La- crosse  All-ÂConference  Team.
OV  golfers  vie  at  Rutland  course RUTLAND  —  The  Otter  Valley  Union  High  School  golf  team  com- peted  at  the  Rutland  Country  Club  on  0RQGD\ ÂżULQJ D WR ÂżQLVK WKLUG LQ D 'LYLVLRQ ,, ÂżHOG 6SULQJÂżHOG ZLWK $OH[ 5XPULOO shooting  a  77  for  medalist  honors,  won  with  373.  Mill  River  was  right  behind  at  376.  Ben  Jerome  led  the  Otters  by  shooting  100.  Also  scoring  for  OV  were  Garrett  Robin  (101),  Colin  1LFNODZ DQG -RH\ 6FDUERU- RXJK Fair  Haven  also  competed,  but  not  with  a  full  team.  Caleb  Larson  shot  a  97  for  the  Slaters. Â
Softball  teams  all  post  victories
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Lacrosse 5/19  B.  &  Burton  vs.  MUHS  Girls  ...........13-Â8 5/20  MUHS  Boys  vs.  Essex  ...................12-Â6 Softball 5/19  MUHS  vs.  N.  Country  ......................8-Â2 5/19  OV  vs.  Brattleboro  ...........................2-Â0 5/20  VUHS  vs.  St.  Johnsbury  ..................7-Â0 5/20  Mt.  Abe  vs.  Rice  ...........................16-Â12 5/20  MUHS  vs.  CVU  ..............................13-Â2 Baseball 5/19  N.  Country  vs.  MUHS  ......................7-Â2 5/19  Brattleboro  vs.  OV  ...........................9-Â0 5/20  Rice  vs.  Mt.  Abe  .............................19-Â3 5/20  CVU  at  MUHS  .................................7-Â1 Tennis 5/19  Montpelier  vs.  MUHS  Girls  ..............7-Â0 5/19  MUHS  Boys  vs.  Montpelier  ..............4-Â3 5/19  Rutland  vs.  OV  ................................7-Â0 5/20  MUHS  Girls  vs.  U-Â32  .......................6-Â1 5/20  U-Â32  vs.  MUHS  Boys  .......................4-Â3 COLLEGE SPORTS Men’s Tennis NCAA D-ÂIII Elite Eight At Claremont, Calif. 5/19  Midd.  vs.  Case  Western.  .................5-Â1 5/20  Claremont  vs.  Midd.  .........................5-Â2
ADDISON  COUNTY  —  In  lo- cal  high  school  softball  play  earlier  this  week,  Mount  Abe,  Middlebury,  Otter  Valley  and  Vergennes  all  won  their  games,  with  the  Tigers  prevail- ing  twice.  As  for  Tuesday,  three  local  teams  ZHUH LQ WKH WRS ÂżYH LQ WKH 'LYLVLRQ ,, standings,  according  to  the  Vermont  Principals’  Association  website. Â
Lyndon  (9-Â1)  and  defending  cham- SLRQ %)$ )DLUID[ ZLWK 98+6 LQ VHFRQG 0RXQW $EH LQ IRXUWK DQG 29 LQ ÂżIWK EAGLES On  Tuesday,  the  Eagles  bolted  to  D OHDG DQG KHOG RQ IRU D victory  over  visiting  Rice.  The  Ea- JOHV VFRUHG IRXU LQ WKH ÂżUVW RQH LQ the  third  and  seven  in  the  fourth  to Â
take  their  big  lead  before  Rice  began  to  score  on  starting  pitcher  Rachael  McCormick,  who  was  seeing  her  ¿UVW DFWLRQ VLQFH D KRPH SODWH FROOL- sion  on  May  13.  0F&RUPLFN ZHQW LQQLQJV DO- lowing  seven  runs,  four  earned,  on  KLWV ZKLOH VWULNLQJ RXW VL[ Sam  Forand ¿QLVKHG XS RQ WKH PRXQG (See  Softball,  Page  3B)
Schedule
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Lacrosse 5/23  MUHS  Boys  at  CVU  ...................4  p.m. 5/23  VUHS  Boys  at  Mt.  Abe  ...............4  p.m. 5/23  CVU  at  MUHS  Girls  ...............4:30  p.m. 5/24  St.  Johnsbury  at  OV  .................11  a.m. 5/27  MUHS  Boys  at  St.  J  ....................4  p.m. 5/27  VUHS  Boys  at  Montpelier  ...........4  p.m. 5/28  Hartford  at  OV  Boys  ...................4  p.m. 5/28  S.  Burlington  at  MUHS  Girls  ..4:30  p.m. 5/29  Mt.  Abe  Boys  at  VUHS  ...............4  p.m. 5/30  OV  Boys  at  Burr  &  Burton  ...........4  p.m. 5/30  Mt.  Anthony  at  MUHS  Girls  ....4:30  p.m. 5/31  MUHS  Girls  at  Burlington  .........11  a.m. 5/31  Randolph  at  Mt.  Abe  Boys  ........11  a.m.
(See  Schedule,  Page  2B)
($*/( 6(1,25 0(/$1,( 5RWD[ UXQV GRZQ D SRS À\ GXULQJ 7XHV- day’s  game  against  Rice. Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell
EAGLE  JUNIOR  MARY  Kate  Clark  snags  a  grounder  before  throwing  out  Rice  base  runner  Mikayla  Butkus  Tuesday  afternoon  in  Bristol.  Mount  Abraham  won  the  game,  16-Â12. Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell