ADDISON COUNTY INDEPENDENT
B Section
THURSDAY, Â NOVEMBER Â 12, Â 2015
KARL LINDHOLM
Baseball  in  Cuba: More  than  a  sport Editor’s  note:  This  is  the  second  of  a  two-Âpart  series. “It  could  be  a  train  wreck,â€?  was  Oscar’s  apprehensive  assessment. We  were  having  a  late  night  im- promptu  discussion  of  the  future  of  Cuban  baseball  in  Kit  Krieger’s  WK Ă€RRU URRP LQ WKH +DEDQD /L- bre  Hotel.  We  had  just  returned  from  watching  Industriales  of  Havana  defeat  Camaguey,  7-Â1,  at  Estadio  Latinamericano. Our  company  included  two  of  the  foremost  experts  on  Cuban  base- ball  in  the  world,  our  special  guest  Sigfredo  Barros,  the  baseball  writer  for  Granma,  the  Communist  daily  newspaper  in  Cuba,  and  American  Peter  Bjarkman,  author  of  two  im- portant  histories  of  Cuban  baseball  and  the  soon-Âto-Âbe- published  “Cuba’s  Baseball  Defec- tors:  The  Inside  Story  of  Major  League  Baseball’s  Hottest  Issue.â€? Peter  was  a  participant,  with  me,  in  Cubaball,  a  baseball  excursion  or- ganized  by  Kit  (for  the  14th  time  in  the  last  20  years),  a  former  teacher  from  Vancouver,  British  Columbia,  by  way  of  New  York.  Unlike  me,  Peter  has  been  to  Cuba  “60  or  70  times.â€?  I  had  come  to  Cuba  once  before,  in  2001,  as  the  faculty  representa- tive  on  a  Middlebury  College  alumni  trip.  I  lectured  to  our  group  on  Cuban  baseball  without  ever  having  seen  a  game.  My  recent  trip,  two  weeks  ago,  was  something  then  of  an  act  of  compensation:  We  saw  seven  games  in  seven  days,  seven  different  teams,  four  different  ballparks  and  cities.  Wonderful. 2Q D VXSHUÂżFLDO OHYHO , WKRXJKW , knew  something  about  Cuba  as  a  re- (See  Lindholm,  Page  4B)
Hamilton slips past Panther football, 21-Â16 MIDDLEBURY  —  With  the  help  of  four  interceptions,  the  Middlebury  College  football  team  on  Saturday  im- proved  to  5-Â2  with  a  21-Â16  win  over  visiting  Hamilton  (1-Â6)  in  the  Pan- WKHUVÂś ÂżQDO KRPH JDPH 0LGGOH- bury  concludes  its  season  on  this  Sat- urday  at  Tufts.  Middlebury  scored  on  its  third  play  from  scrimmage,  when  quarterback  Matt  Milano  hit  Matthew  Minno  over  the  middle  before  the  wide  receiver  broke  a  pair  of  tackles  and  raced  GRZQÂżHOG IRU D \DUG WRXFKGRZQ reception  to  make  it  6-Â0. Cornerback  Nate  Leedy  ended  Hamilton’s  next  drive  by  picking  off  a  pass  at  the  Middlebury  seven  after  a  Continental  receiver  had  fallen  down,  but  on  the  Continentals’  next  posses- sion  they  moved  77  yards  in  16  plays  to  make  it  7-Â6.  LaShawn  Ware  gained  47  yards  on  six  carries  on  the  march  before  Jason  Nastovski  scored  from  one-Âyard  out  at  11:45  left  of  the  second  quarter. Hamilton  added  to  its  lead  on  its  next  possession,  when  Cole  Freeman  connected  for  78  yards  with  Charles  (QVOH\ RQ D Ă€HD Ă€LFNHU WR PDNH LW The  Panthers  drove  to  the  Hamilton  10  later  in  the  quarter,  but  Jimmy  Giat- tino  picked  off  Milano  on  the  two,  end- ing  the  drive. (See  Football,  Page  4B)
SPORTS
ALSO IN THIS SECTION:
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Multi-Âthreat  Eagle  is  Player  of  the  Year
Sports BRIEFS
Independent  picks  its  local  boys’  Rec.  Department  soccer  all-Âstars By  ANDY  KIRKALDY hosts  hoop  tourney
ADDISON  COUNTY  —  The  re- turn  of  the  Mount  Abraham  Union  High  School  boys’  soccer  team  to  Di- vision  II  prominence  was  the  biggest  local  story  in  the  sport,  and  unsur- prisingly  the  Eagles  are  well  repre- sented  on  the  2015  Addison  Indepen- dent  Boys’  Soccer  All-ÂStar  Team,  led  by  Player  of  the  Year  Charlie  Meyer. Meyer’s  all-Âaround  efforts  and  scoring  helped  Coach  Mike  Corey’s  Mount  Abe  group  im- prove  from  four  victories  in  2014  to  10  wins  this  fall,  and  four  more  Eagles  join  him  as  Inde- pendent  all- stars. 8QGHU ÂżUVW year  coach  MEYER Reeves  Live- say,  Middlebury  also  enjoyed  a  leap  forward,  as  the  Tigers  tripled  their  2014  victory  total  to  six  this  fall.  Four  athletes  who  played  instrumental  roles  in  lifting  the  team’s  quality  of  play  are  honored  here. In  Vergennes,  Coach  Kevin  Hayes’  Commodores  understandably  re- grouped  after  a  dozen  seniors  gradu- ated  this  spring,  a  situation  com- pounded  by  injuries:  VUHS  won  twice,  once  against  Otter  Valley.  Two  Commodores,  one  who  also  suited  up  for  MUHS  after  a  midseason  trans- fer,  earned  berths  on  the  Independent  squad. Former  Otter  Valley  girls’  coach  Dick  Williams  took  over  an  inexperi- enced  squad  this  fall  and  guided  it  to  three  MVL  wins.  A  key  senior  central  defender  made  the  Independent  squad. Selections  were  made  based  on  observation,  statistics  and  consulta- tion  with  the  coaches.  Congratula- tions  to  the  following: CHARLIE  MEYER,  MOUNT  ABE  SENIOR,  PLAYER  OF  THE  MOUNT  ABRAHAM  UNION  High  School  senior  Charlie  Meyer  is  the  Addison  Independent  high  school  boys’  YEAR.  Notes:  Technically  the  point  soccer  Player  of  the  Year. (See  All-Âstars,  Page  3B) ,QGHSHQGHQW ÂżOH SKRWR 7UHQW &DPSEHOO
Many  locals  tapped  for  North-ÂSouth  football  game MIDDLEBURY  —  Middlebury  will  not  play  because  of  injury.   College’s  Alumni  Stadium  will  Kickoff will be at Four  members  of  the  D-ÂIII  cham- host  this  Saturday’s  15th  annual  12:30 p.m. for the pion  Otter  Valley  team  will  join  the  North-ÂSouth  Senior  All-ÂStar  Foot- 15th annual contest Tigers  on  the  South  squad:  Carson  ball  Game,  and  a  dozen  standouts  that concludes the Leary,  who  rushed  for  more  than  from  the  area’s  three  high  school  2,600  yards  this  season,  and  three  fall Vermont high football  programs  will  be  repre- of  the  linemen  who  paved  the  way  school athletic senting  their  schools. for  him:  Tyler  Allen,  M.J.  Denis  Eight  of  those  players  will  suit  up  season. and  Trevor  Peduto.  All  four  also  for  the  South  squad.  Five  of  them  played  both  ways  for  OV.  are  from  the  Division  I  runner-Âup  Three  two-Âway  players  who  ex- Middlebury  Union  squad:  Nick  Beauchamp,  Wyatt  celled  for  the  D-ÂII  Mount  Abraham/Vergennes  col- Laberge,  Jerry  Niemo,  Sawyer  Ryan  and  Ali  Abdul  lective  will  suit  up  for  the  North  team:  Jack  Eisen- Sater,  all  key  two-Âway  players  for  the  10-Â1  Tigers.  hower,  Matt  Mullen  and  Ryan  Paquin.  Oakley  Gordon  was  also  named  to  the  squad,  but  Kickoff  will  be  at  12:30  p.m.  for  the  15th  annual Â
contest  that  concludes  the  fall  Vermont  high  school  athletic  season.  Tickets  are  $10  for  adults  and  $7  for  students  and  will  be  available  at  the  gate  start- ing  an  hour  prior  to  game  time.  All  proceeds  ben- HÂżW WKH VFKRODUVKLS DQG JUDQW SURJUDPV RI WKH 9HU- mont  Chapter  of  the  National  Football  Foundation. All  34  high  school  football  programs  from  the  state’s  three  divisions  are  represented  on  the  two  rosters,  which  are  subject  to  change  prior  to  the  game.  Head  coach  for  the  North  squad  is  Marty  5LFKDUGV RI 0RXQW 0DQVÂżHOG ZKLOH )DLU +DYHQÂśV Brian  Grady  will  head  the  South  coaching  staff.  The  rest  of  the  players  named  to  the  North  roster  were:  David  Legris  of  BFA  Fairfax;Íž  Jarad  Clark,  (See  North-ÂSouth  Game,  Page  4B)
MIDDLEBURY  —  The  Middle- bury  Parks  and  Recreation  Depart- ment  is  sponsoring  a  three-Âon-Âthree  basketball  tournament  that  will  be  held  on  Nov.  28  at  the  Middlebury  municipal  building  gymnasium.  The  cost  for  a  team  of  four  for  an  event  that  drew  a  number  of  teams  a  year  ago  is  $75. The  winning  team  will  receive  T- shirts,  and  the  top  three  teams  will  earn  medals,  organizers  said.  Deadline  for  registration  is  Mon- day,  Nov.  16.  Those  interested  may  contact  Randy  Stockwell  at  802-Â989- 9715  or  Dustin  Hunt  at  the  recreation  department  (802-Â388-Â8100,  exten- sion  216). Â
3DQWKHU ÂżHOG hockey  gets  1&$$ ELG MIDDLEBURY  —  The  Middle- EXU\ &ROOHJH ÂżHOG KRFNH\ WHDP will  make  its  13th  consecutive  and  16th  overall  appearance  in  the  NCAA  Division  III  tournament  this  weekend,  but  the  16-Â2  Panthers  will  not  host  a  regional  after  fall- ing  at  undefeated  Bowdoin,  2-Â1,  in  6XQGD\ÂśV 1(6&$& ÂżQDO The  Panthers  will  travel  to  Wil- liam  Smith  for  a  regional  this  weekend.  The  Panthers  will  meet  the  winner  of  a  Wednesday  game  between  Cabrini  (12-Â8)  and  Frank- lin  &  Marshall  (16-Â3)  on  Saturday  at  2  p.m.  William  Smith  (17-Â2)  on  Saturday  at  11  a.m.  will  face  the  winner  of  a  Wednesday  contest  be- tween  Bridgewater  (Va.)  (12-Â8)  and  Catholic  University  (13-Â6).  Saturday’s  winners  will  meet  on  Sunday  at  1  p.m.,  with  the  victor  KHDGHG WR WKH WRXUQDPHQWÂśV ÂżQDO four  in  Lexington,  Va.,  on  Nov.  21  and  22.  On  this  past  Sunday,  the  Panthers  saw  their  hopes  of  a  fourth  straight  NESCAC  championship  end  with  the  2-Â1  loss  at  Bowdoin.  The  Pan- thers  had  beaten  the  Polar  Bears  (18-Â0)  in  each  of  the  last  three  NE- SCAC  title  games.    Bowdoin  goalie  Clara  Belitz  and  Middlebury’s  Emily  Miller  each  made  a  pair  of  saves  to  keep  the  game  scoreless  before  the  Po- lar  Bears  struck  at  12:02.  Kimmy  *DQRQJ ÂżUHG D VKRW DW 0LOOHU ZKR made  the  initial  save,  but  Rachel  Kennedy  put  away  the  rebound. Molly  Freeman  responded  with  the  equalizer  19:11  into  play.  Sev- eral  players  battled  for  the  ball  to  the  left  of  the  stroke  line,  and  Free- PDQ ÂżQDOO\ SRSSHG D VKRW LQWR WKH (See  Panthers,  Page  2B)
Season ends on penalty kicks for soccer team
Schedule
COLLEGE SPORTS Field Hockey NCAA Regional at Wm. Smith 11/14  Midd.  vs.  TBD  ...........................2  p.m. 11/14  William  Smith  vs.  TBD  ............11  a.m. 11/15  Regional  Final  ...........................1  p.m. 11/21  &  22  ........ Final  Four  in  Lexington,  Va. Football 11/14  Midd.  at  Tufts  .....................12:30  p.m. Men’s Hockey 11/21  Colby  at  Midd.  ...........................7  p.m. 11/22  Bowdoin  at  Midd.   .....................4  p.m. Women’s Hockey 11/20  Trinity  at  Midd.   .........................7  p.m. 11/21  Trinity  at  Midd.   .........................3  p.m. Women’s Basketball 11/20  &  21   ......... Midd.  at  Oneonta  Tourney Men’s Basketball 11/20  &  21   ..........Midd.  at  Medaille  Tourney Spectators  are  advised  to  consult  school  websites  for  the  latest  schedule  updates. Â
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By  ANDY  KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  The  Mid- dlebury  College  menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  soccer  team  was  ousted  from  the  NESCAC  tournament  by  visiting  Wesleyan,  RQ SHQDOW\ NLFNV DIWHU D Âż- QDO LQ D 6DWXUGD\ VHPLÂżQDO Despite  the  Panthersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  14-Â2-Â2  re- cord  and  second-Âplace  regular-Âsea- VRQ 1(6&$& ÂżQLVK 0LGGOHEXU\ was  snubbed  on  Monday  for  an  at- large  bid  in  the  NCAA  Division  III  tournament.  Bowdoin  defeated  Wesleyan  on  Sunday  to  earn  NESCACâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  auto- matic  NCAA  berth.  Understand- ably,  the  selection  committee  also  tabbed  NESCAC  regular  season  champion  Amherst  (14-Â1-Â1)  for  a  spot  in  the  NCAA  tournament.  However,  the  inclusion  of  Tufts  (9-Â4-Â3)  as  the  third  NESCAC  rep- resentative  at  the  Panthersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  expense  appears  to  be  a  statistical  oddity,  although  the  Jumbos  did  defeat  the  Panthers  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  by  1-Â0  at  home  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  dur- ing  the  regular  season.  (See  Men,  Page  2B)