Spring High School Sports Report

Spring

Sports Report

Team Rosters • Schedules Photos and Stories

Addison Inedependent April 13, 2017

PAGE 2C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 13, 2017

MIDDLEBURY

UNION

HIGH

SCHOOL

MUHS Boys’ Lacrosse

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — In 2016, Coach Brian Carpenter’s first year leading the Middlebury Union boys’ lacrosse program followed mass graduation from a squad that reached the 2015 Division I final before losing a one-goal heartbreaker there.

Certainly, some talent has also moved on from Carpenter’s team a year ago, which earned a respectable .500 record despite its relative inexperience.

But most of his players return with a year of seasoning under their belts, and after a couple of promising preseason scrimmages Carpenter was optimistic for a step forward this spring.

“If they work hard and if they stay healthy — we’re not terribly deep — and continue to improve throughout the year, I think they set their own agenda as far as whether they go deep into the playoffs,” he said.

The team will be relying on a core of key seniors, two of whom will switch places this season, Andrew Gleason and Spencer Carpenter.

Gleason will move from midfield into the attack, where Coach Carpenter believes his length and strong shot will boost the offense, and Carpenter will move from attack to midfield, where his stamina and tenacity should pay off, particularly when he assumes faceoff duties.

Senior Trey Kaufmann will join Carpenter on the top midfield line along with talented junior exchange student Jacob Boeckermann, while two more seniors, Eli Miller and Eli Tucker, will work together on a defensive midfield unit.

And senior Brett Viens will return at low defense, joined by juniors Fyn Fernandez and Brian Kiernan, who also saw extensive minutes a year ago. “That’s a good defense,” Carpenter said.

There will be some changes elsewhere in the back. Incumbent senior goalie Doug DeLorenzo has moved out to long-stick midfielder, where junior Tyler Giorgio and freshman Quinn Berry are also seeking time. “There’s some

competition for long-stick middie,” Carpenter said.

That leaves freshman Cam Devlin as the starting goalie, with DeLorenzo as the backup.

Giorgio could also line up with Miller and Tucker on the defensive midfield line, as could sophomore Ben Crawford.

The No. 2 midfield line all saw action a year ago: juniors Lane Sheldrick and Sam Hodges and sophomore Henry Hodde; Sheldrick will handle faceoffs for that group.

Joining Gleason up front will be two more experienced hands, junior Jack Donahue and sophomore Jake Peluso, with sophomore Kolby Farnsworth and senior A.J. Campbell spelling them. Carpenter

said Campbell could also see action at midfield.

Dave Donahue returns to assist the program, and former Tiger athletes Wil Mackey and Kyle Rouse are also helping out.

“We’ve got a great coaching crew,” Carpenter said. “We’ve got plenty of hands on board to give the kids individual attention and make sure we are continuing to improve throughout the year.”

And that, Carpenter said, will be the key if the Tigers are to challenge perennial powers Essex, Champlain Valley and South Burlington.

“That’s our goal, just continue to improve and peak at the right time,” he said.

Middlebury Union High School Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Team Coach: Brian Carpenter Kolby Farnsworth Name Grade Fyn Fernandez A.J. Campbell 12 Tyler Giorgio Spencer Carpenter 12 Sam Hodges Doug DeLorenzo 12 Brian Kiernan Andrew Gleason 12 Lane Sheldrick Trey Kaufmann 12 Ben Crawford Eli Miller 12 Henry Hodde Eli Tucker 12 Jacob Peluso Brett Viens 12 Quinn Berry Jakob Boeckermann 11 Cam Devlin Jack Donahue 11

11 11 11 11 11 11 10 10 10 9 9

Middlebury Union High School Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse 5/8 @ Mt. Mansfield Date Opponent/Event Time 5/10 @ BFA St. Albans 4/7 Woodstock 4 p.m.

5/12 @ Essex 4/11 Essex 4 p.m.

5/15 @ Woodstock 4/14 @ Rutland 4 p.m.

5/17 Mt. Mansfield 4/18 South Burlington 4 p.m.

5/20 @ Champlain Valley 4/28 Champlain Valley 4 p.m.

5/24 @ Colchester 5/1 BFA St. Albans 4 p.m.

5/27 Spaulding 5/3 Burr & Burton 4 p.m.

5/5 @ South Burlington 4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

7 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

11 a.m.

4 p.m.

11 a.m.

Middlebury Union High School Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse 5/2 @ Essex Date Opponent/Event Time 5/4 South Burlington 4/5 Burr & Burton 4:30 p.m.

5/9 @ Mt. Mansfield 4/8 @ Woodstock 11 a.m.

5/11 Champlain Valley 4/10 Rutland 4:30 p.m.

5/16 @ Burlington 4/14 @ Champlain Valley 4:30 p.m.

5/19 Essex 4/15 @ Rice 11 a.m.

5/23 @ South Burlington 4/17 @ BFA St. Albans 4:30 p.m.

5/26 Mt. Mansfield 4/21 Burlington 4:30 p.m.

4/24 @ Burr & Burton 4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

MUHS Girls’ Lacrosse

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — Graduation, an injury and a prep school decision added up to subtract seven players from the Middlebury Union girls’ lacrosse team that in 2016 won 15 times and reached the Division I final.

But Coach Kelley Higgins had a deep team a year ago and also has several promising newcomers to blend into the mix.

“I love to see once we have some really strong players graduate or leave what the team morphs into after that. There’s an opportunity for new people to step up and take those spots,” Higgins said. “It makes us more interesting.”

Attrition hit the defensive end of the field hardest, but even there plenty of talent remains. Junior goalie Raven Payne returns, as does senior Riley Fenster, entering her fourth year as a starter, and junior Keagan Dunbar, who last season typically shadowed other teams’ top scorers.

Higgins was leaning toward junior Abby Gleason as the third defender, but she is one of three Tigers who missed time early on to play in a national youth hockey tournament (freshmen Lexi Bartlett and Kate Donahue are the others), and that job was up in the air. Juniors Ciara Eagan and Olivia Beauchamp are also backline candidates.

“The third low defender, we’ll kind of see who lands there,” Higgins said.

Juniors Andi Boe, Satchel McLaughlin and Isabel Rosenberg started last year at midfield, while sophomore Ada Anderson split time between midfield and attack a year ago, and sophomore Lacey Greenamyre also saw midfield action in 2016. Midfield newcomers include sophomore Emily Laframboise and Bartlett, and Higgins said Anderson could also play there as well as at attack.

Before the Tigers’ opener, Higgins said she was not yet sure how things would shake out.

“I don’t really know who is going to fill those spots until I get everybody back, to be honest,” she said. “We’ll be winging it at midfield and defensively.”

Senior Mikayla Robinson and juniors Ella Nagy-Benson and Tulley Hescock return at attack, where junior Anna Hodson is new and Anderson and Donahue can also line up.

Higgins said she was not sure how competitive the Tigers would be.

“I hope we are,” she said. “The unknown is how everybody else looks. We know how we look. But how are we going to stack up to the other teams? It’s always fun to find out.”

One thing about which Higgins was confident was her team’s strong work ethic.

“It just blows me away,” she said.

“They just come and work hard.”

Middlebury Union High School Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Team Coach: Kelley Higgins Name Grade Riley Fenster 12 Mikayla Robinson 12 Olivia Beauchamp 11 Andi Boe 11 Sarah Broughton 11 Keagan Dunbar 11 Ciara Eagan 11 Abby Gleason 11 Tulley Hescock 11

Anna Hodson Satchel McLauglin Ella Nagy-Benson Isabel Rosenberg Raven Payne Ada Anderson Lacy Greenamyre Emily Laframboise Lexi Bartlett Kate Donahue

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Addison Independent, Thursday, April 13, 2017 — PAGE 3C

MIDDLEBURY

MUHS

UNION

HIGH

SCHOOL

Baseball

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — A year ago an inexperienced Middlebury Union baseball team took a significant step forward under Coach Charlie Messenger even with a major injury loss.

“We won five games, which was five more than we won the year before,” Messenger said. “It was an improvement. And we were young last year.”

This year there are five seniors on the Tigers’ roster — outfielders Patrick Messenger, Pierson Beatty and Austin Friend; backup catcher Austin Brown, and relief pitcher and backup first baseman Nick Beattie. The team also includes three sophomores and a freshman, as well as four juniors, but Messenger notes those three sophomores all saw major time in 2016.

He expects the Tigers’ seasoning to start to pay off.

“We’re still young,” Messenger said. “But we’re experienced.

MUHS

Everybody, except for three guys on the team, has a year of experience, which I think is going to go a long way. We’re not using that we’re young as an excuse this year. We want to be competitive. There are going to be days when we’re not, obviously, but when we go into Essex we expect to win now. We don’t expect to say this is a learning experience.”

Two of those sophomores, Wyatt Cameron and Jordan Stearns, will join junior Skyeler Devlin to form the Tigers’ starting pitching rotation, with Friend, Messenger and Beattie among those who will form the bullpen.

Messenger thinks pitching can be a strength, providing the staff throws strikes and keeps the ball down.

“I think it’s going to be OK. Both Wyatt and Jordy got some good experience last year. Both of them pitched in the summer,” he said.

“And Skyeler has shown a lot of improvement.”

Junior Brian Foote returns behind the plate, with Brown in reserve. The

infield returns almost intact, with Devlin at first, Cameron at shortstop and Stearns at third base. Freshman Hale Hescock and junior Ryan Morgan can play second, and Hescock can back up shortstop with Cameron on the mound. Junior Nikolaus Kaufmann can back up both Stearns and Cameron on the left side of the infield, with Beattie ready to slide in at first base when Devlin pitches.

Sophomore Simon Fischer and Messenger are the incumbents in left and center fields, respectively, while Beatty and Friend could both see time in right or spell Fischer in left.

Messenger expects strong defense, but said it would go hand-in-hand with the pitching.

“I expect to be a good defensive team, but we have to have the pitching to go with that,” he said. “If the pitching falters, the ball gets hit harder and therefore the defense is put to the test.”

Offense was not a team strength in 2016, but Messenger expects

improvement, again due to the year of seasoning.

“We should be a better offensive team, which should take some pressure off of us defensively,” he said.

Messenger would not promise more wins, but said he expected the Tigers to be a tougher team to defeat.

“I am looking to be competitive in this league, not just beat up on the bad teams and get creamed by the top teams. I expect to go out and not have it 15-3, but be able to be competitive and be in the games,” he said. “I don’t know if our record will be any better, but being competitive will be a big difference.”

MUHS Varsity Baseball Date Opponent/Event Time 4/13 @ Rutland 4:30 p.m.

4/18 Essex 4:30 p.m.

4/20 Champlain Valley 4:30 p.m.

4/25 @ South Burlington 4:30 p.m.

4/27 @ Vergennes 4:30 p.m.

4/29 Rice 11 a.m.

5/2 Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

5/4 @ Colchester 4:30 p.m.

5/9 @ Mt. Mansfield 4:30 p.m.

5/11 Milton 4:30 p.m.

5/12 North Country 4:30 p.m.

5/16 @ St. Johnsbury 4:30 p.m.

5/18 @ Spaulding 4:30 p.m.

5/20 Missisquoi Valley 11 a.m.

5/23 @ BFA St. Albans 4:30 p.m.

5/25 Burlington 4:30 p.m.

Middlebury Union High School Varsity Baseball Team Coach: Charlie Messenger Name Grade Nick Beattie 12 Pierson Beatty 12 Austin Brown 12 Austin Friend 12 Patrick Messenger 12 Skyeler Devlin 11 Brian Foote 11 Nicholas Kaufmann 11 Ryan Morgan 11 Wyatt Cameron 10 Simon Fischer 10 Jordan Stearns 10 Hale Hescock 9

MUHS Varsity Softball Date Opponent/Event Time 4/15 @ Fair Haven 11 a.m.

4/18 Essex 4:30 p.m.

4/20 Champlain Valley 4:30 p.m.

4/25 @ South Burlington 4:30 p.m.

4/27 @ Vergennes 4:30 p.m.

4/29 Rice 11 a.m.

5/2 Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

5/4 @ Colchester 4:30 p.m.

5/9 @ Mt. Mansfield 4:30 p.m.

5/11 Milton 4:30 p.m.

5/12 North Country 4:30 p.m.

5/16 @ St. Johnsbury 4:30 p.m.

5/18 @ Spaulding 4:30 p.m.

5/20 Missisquoi Valley 11 a.m.

5/23 @ BFA St. Albans 4:30 p.m.

5/25 Burlington 4:30 p.m.

MUHS Varsity Softball Team Coach: Polly Rheaume Name Grade Payton Buxton 12 Ally Larocque 12 Lilia Smith 12 Darcy Staats 12 Bridget Audet 11 Ella Beattie 11 Lauren Sylvester 11 Abigail LaRock 10 Carly Laroque 10 Kyra Roberts 10 Ashley Sunderland 10 Taylor Sylvester 10 Gwen Stafford 9

Softball

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury Union softball team in 2016 posted one of the program’s finest seasons in years, winning 16 times and reaching the Division I semifinal round.

Coach Polly Rheaume noted that three multi-year starters and vital offensive contributors at catcher, first and second base graduated from that squad, but she is confident the Tigers can move forward regardless.

“We had three key players that we lost from last year, but we have girls coming up that can fill those spots really well,” Rheaume said. “I think they’re going to do a great job.”

The biggest reason for optimism is probably senior pitcher Payton Buxton, a four-year starter who last year established herself as one of the state’s top hurlers. Junior veteran Bridget Audet is a capable backup on

the mound while she will return to patrol left field, and sophomore Abby LaRock offers more pitching depth, although her main job will be to take over behind the plate after starting in the outfield a year ago.

“With Payton and Bridget doing the pitching, and we’re going to have Abby being the catcher and the backup pitcher, too, we’re good to go,” Rheaume said.

Seniors Lily Smith and Darcy Staats return to anchor the infield defense at shortstop and third base, respectively, and senior Ally Larocque is back in center field.

The projected new starters are junior Ella Beattie at first base, sophomore Carly Larocque at second base, and freshmen Gwen Stafford in right field. When Audet takes the mound, Buxton will probably move to the outfield.

Providing depth will be sophomore

Ashley Sunderland at catcher; junior Lauren Sylvester, either in the infield or outfield; sophomore Taylor Sylvester, also anywhere on the diamond and notably at shortstop if necessary; and sophomore Kyra Roberts, primarily in the outfield.

Rheaume is confident in the team’s defense and said the newcomers will fit right in.

“They’re good, heads-up defensive players, so they’re going to do a great job for us,” she said.

Smith, Buxton, Staats and Stafford offer speed for small-ball, and many hitters are coming off strong springs in 2016, Rheaume said.

“They’re getting their bats on the ball, and Lily, Darcy, Payton, Abby, Bridget, they’re all going to do a good job for us,” she said.

“Without a doubt,” Rheaume said.

“Lily, Payton and the freshman Gwen coming up have some speed.”

The Tigers also remember the frustration of their final game last spring, a 2-1 loss to Mount Anthony in a Division I semifinal in which they outhit the Patriots, 10-6, and stranded 10 runners. That loss will motivate her team, Rheaume said.

“We outplayed them. We just didn’t outscore them,” Rheaume said. “We had a great season, but it was a tough loss. But we’ll come back strong.”

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PAGE 4C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 13, 2017

MIDDLEBURY

UNION

HIGH

SCHOOL

MUHS Boys’ and Girls’ Track

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — Buoyed by consistently strong turnouts and some top athletes, the Middlebury Union track and field team has moved on a steadily upward trajectory since longtime assistant Ed Blechner took over as head coach three years ago: The Tigers have moved up one place in the Division II standings every season.

Blechner would like to see that happen again. If it does, the Tigers would be at least second in D-II. “We set some high goals,” he said.

“When I took over as head coach the first year both the boys and girls came in fifth at the states. Next year we came in fourth. Last year both came in third; I challenged them to get into the top three. So this year we’re keeping going.”

A number of point-scorers did graduate, including two individual champions and runners who helped the Tigers win four relay races, two each by the boys’ and girls’ teams.

But in the preseason Blechner could point to a number of potential state-meet placers on his roster, which is bigger than ever after 24 freshmen signed up.

“Hopefully they can contribute, and I think they will,” he said. “In the last few years we’ve had steady numbers coming out, and this year I sense just two weeks in the kids are working hard. They want to do well.”

The Tigers have one returning individual D-II champion, senior Henry Ganey, who won the boys’ 800-meter race last spring, while all four of the runners who won the girls’ four-by-800-meter relay a year ago return: juniors Helen Anderson, Caroline Kimble and Katherine Koehler, and sophomore Ailey Bosworth.

Kimble, Anderson and Bosworth also helped the Tiger 4X400 team finish third; Anderson was fifth at 400 meters; and Kimble took fifth in the 800.

Three members of the girls’ winning 4x100 team also return:

juniors Megan Townsend and Chloe Kane and senior Kiana Plouffe.

Townsend also took second at 100 meters, Kane was second at 200 meters, and Plouffe took fifth in the long jump.

Blechner said there are plenty of choices to fill in the girls’ relay teams, including junior Lucy Groves and sophomores Trinity Bryant and Virginia Patz in the 4X100, where he wants the Tigers to take aim at the school record. Senior Kate Oster is a top option in the longer relays.

On the boys’ side fewer runners return on the relays, where the Tigers added a second-place finish in the 4x100 to first-place results in the 4x400 and 4x800.

In the 4x400 senior Josh Girard (also fifth in the triple jump) and Ganey are back, and in the 800 only senior Ross Crowne (fifth at 3,000 meters) returns. Blechner cited senior Thomas Maron as an individual threat in the 800 and a logical relay choice, and senior Tobias Broucke and juniors Daniel Wisell, Julian Schmitt and Willem Landis have also had decent distance results.

All four of the 4x100 runners return: senior Damien Morris, juniors Ben Balparda and Garrett Troumbley (also a hurdling threat), and sophomore Tristan Durante.

Also placing a year ago was sophomore Nanja Horning, fifth in the discus.

Blechner expects a number of other athletes to emerge, in part because he has more help coaching some of the specialties this season: Chris Anderson returns to work with the distance runners and Mike Corbett with the sprinters, while Matt Kimble will help distance runners and hurdlers, Rita Jones can mentor sprinters and jumpers, and former college athlete Mark Harris can advise pole vaulters, high jumpers and hurdlers.

Particularly in the case of hurdling and vaulting, team participation has been limited, and Blechner hopes help in those specialties will broaden

Coach: Ed Blechner Name Grade GIRLS Allison Cherrier 12 Kess Moulton 12 Kate Oster 12 Kiana Plouffe 12 Helen Anderson 11 Anna Buteau 11 Lucy Groves 11 Greta Hardy-Mittell 11 Chloe Kane 11 Caroline Kimble 11 Katherine Koehler 11 Sophia Marks 11 Georgina Mraz 11 Meilena Sanchez 11 Gaia Sheridan 11 Megan Townsend 11 Aileen Bosworth 10

the team’s abilities and point-scoring base.

“We should do better in some of those events. One of our goals this year is to get people in those events we didn’t have,” he said.

Blechner also believes the team’s strong work ethic — and its numbers

Middlebury Union High School Varsity Track and Field Team Trinity Bryant 10 Sylvia Vorsteveld Nanja Horning 10 Tea Zisis Audrey Huston 10 Maisie Newbury 10 Virginia Patz 10 BOYS Emily Pottinger 10 Tobias Broucke Katherine Wallace 10 Ross Crowne Ellen Berg 9 Henry Ganey Kelsey Buteau 9 Joshua Girard Jadah Corbett 9 Jakub Kraus Zoe Hill 9 Josef Langevin Annie Lapiner 9 Thomas Maron Journey LaRose 9 Damien Morris Mira Magliente 9 Douglas Sandler Rosemary Maheu 9 Benjamin Balparda Isabel Olson 9 Duncan Crogan Riley O’Neil 9 Ezra Marks Colleen Oster 9 Matthew Ouellette Nekaiya Shine 9 Julian Schmitt Talin Teague 9 Garrett Troumbley

— will produce points, as well as an enjoyable spring.

“They’re a really good group, and I think we’ve got a really good group that came up from the middle school program,” he said. “They’re working hard and they seem to like it, and I’m really happy about that.”

9 9

12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 11 11

Daniel Wisell Matt Townsend Isaac Buttolph Tristan Durante Ian Fenster Connor Harris Kenny Larkin Ethan Reiderer Camden Schnoor Carson Yildirim Silas Wisell Nico Brayton William Carpenter Gabriel Cason Anthony Garner Hunter Heffernan Tamhas Morgan Julian Roy Franklyn Wolff Peter Wolosinski

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Middlebury Union High School Varsity Track and Field Date Opponent/Event 4/12 @ CVU 4/19 @ South Burlington 4/26 Essex Invitational 5/3 @ Essex

Time 3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

10 a.m.

3:30 p.m.

5/10 5/13 5/17 5/22 5/27

@ South Burlington 3:30 p.m.

Burlington Invitational TBD Middlebury 3:30 p.m. @ Mt. Mansfield 3:30 p.m.

Essex Invitational TBD

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Addison Independent, Thursday, April 13, 2017 — PAGE 5C

MIDDLEBURY

MUHS

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — The spring of 2016 came pretty close to a dream season for the Middlebury Union boys’ tennis team.

No, Coach Ken Schoen’s Tigers didn’t win a state championship — as long as they are in Division I facing teams loaded with Chittenden County club players that goal might be out of reach.

But in 2016 the Tigers ran the table in the regular season to earn a No. 2 seed and then won a first-round playoff game before picking up a couple match wins in a quarterfinal loss against an 11-3 St. Johnsbury team, finishing 10-1.

Five starters from that team graduated, but four return, including the two players who won vs. the Hilltoppers, junior Ziven McCarty at No. 3 singles and sophomore Jesse Rubin at No. 5.

This season McCarty and Rubin join senior veteran Owen Hammel as tri-captains, and the trio will occupy

MUHS

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — With a roster than includes six experienced seniors, first-year Coach Deb Kelly (an assistant a year ago) believes the Middlebury Union girls’ tennis team should enjoy some success this spring.

“We have a lot of good seniors.

We have a nice solid squad,” Kelly said. “They’re all great athletes … I see the seniors as really being dominant players.”

In the preseason, Kelly wouldn’t absolutely commit to who would hold down which positions on the ladder, but she noted the No. 1 spot was open and that senior veterans Charlotte Keathley and Claire Wulfman typically occupied, in some order, the Nos. 2 and 3 positions a year ago. Another experienced senior, Calista Carl, could make a push for a top spot and

UNION

HIGH

SCHOOL

Boys’ Tennis the top three spots in the order. The team’s fourth veteran, senior Ronan Howlett, bumps up from second doubles to No. 4.

“Ziven is first singles and Owen is second singles, and they’re interchangeable. They’re pretty close,” Schoen said, adding, “Ziven and Owen have improved a lot from last year. They’re very strong players and they’re going to be very strong first and second players.”

Schoen noted Rubin was undefeated at No. 5 last spring.

“Jesse, he gets to everything, and his game has improved,” he said. “I think he’s going to be super-competitive at third.”

Similarly, Schoen said Howlett has worked on his game.

“He’s really improved a lot, so he’s a really strong fourth singles,” he said.

Schoen said freshman Spencer Doran was likely to hold off challenges from junior Alex Marohnic and sophomores Sam Daly and Drew Kiernan to hold down the No. 5 spot.

“Spencer’s a very solid freshman.

He’s got really solid strokes, and he’s a very smart player,” he said.

If Doran nails down the final spot on the singles ladder, Daly and Kiernan could form a solid No. 1 doubles team, Schoen said, while Marohnic would most likely team up freshman Hunter Monteanu or junior Tre Bonavita on the No. 2 tandem.

Seniors Samuel Chamberlain, IanTor Bright and Raymond Bushey could also challenge there, or spot in in some matches.

“It depends a lot just on attendance at practices,” Schoen said.

Overall, Schoen said he was pleasantly surprised by how the Tigers’ play had advanced in a year. And he is sure they will be competitive this spring.

“It’s going to be a good season,” he said. “These guys are really focused.

They’re no-nonsense. They really want to play, and they really want to get better. They’re working very hard.”

Middlebury Union High School Boys’ Tennis 5/11 @ Spaulding Date Opponent/Event Time 5/12 Montpelier 4/12 @ Montpelier 3:30 p.m.

5/17 North Country 5/4 @ Harwood 3:30 p.m.

5/19 Harwood 5/5 @ North Country 3:30 p.m.

5/22 @ BFA St. Albans 5/6 BFA St. Albans 3 p.m.

5/26 Spaulding 5/9 U-32 @ Middlebury 3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

Middlebury Union High School Boys’ Varsity Tennis Team Coach: Ken Schoen Name Grade Ian-Tor Bright 12 Raymond Bushey 12 Samuel Chamberlain 12 Owen Hammel 12 Ronan Howlett 12 Alexander Marohnic 12 Tre Bonavita 11 Ziven McCarty 11 Samuel Daly 10 Drew Kiernan 10 Jesse Rubin 10 Spencer Doran 9 Hunter Munteanu 9

Girls’ Tennis would almost certainly find herself playing singles, Kelly said.

Meanwhile, two more senior veteran doubles players might remain a team, Monroe Cromis and Amelia Ingersoll.

“Monroe and Amelia have expressed interest in being No. 1 doubles, so we’re looking at No. 1 doubles maybe being a strong position, also,” Kelly said.

The sixth senior veteran, Tasha Hescock could end up helping fill out the singles roster or anchor the No. 2 doubles team, Kelly said, with the other top candidates for the final singles slots and the second doubles team being junior Sierra Barnicle and sophomores Elizabeth Chamberlain and Nora Draper.

Three less-experienced players round out the roster, seniors Hattie Lindert and Megi Hoxha and junior Diana Kliykbayeva. But Kelly said

all would be given a shot at starting — or moving up the ladder.

“We’re going to do ladder play to have them earn their positions,” she said.

Kelly believes the Tigers’ depth could help them earn their regularseason league title, with St. Albans and Montpelier probably the toughest competition.

“We’ll be very competitive,” Kelly said. “I’m looking to hopefully win the division.”

Middlebury Union High School Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team Coaches: Deb Kelly, Carrie Wulfman and Jeff Wulfman Name Grade Calista Carl 12 Monroe Cromis 12 Tasha Hescock 12 Megi Hoxha 12 Amelia Ingersoll 12

Charlotte Keathley Hattie Lindert Claire Wulfman Sierra Barnicle Diana Kliykbayeva Elizabeth Chamberlain Nora Draper

12 12 12 11 11 10 10

Middlebury Union High School Girls’ Tennis 5/12 @ Montpelier Date Opponent/Event Time 5/15 @ Lake Region 4/12 Montpelier @ Midd.

3:30 p.m.

5/17 @ North Country 5/1 @ Otter Valley 4 p.m.

5/19 @ Harwood Union 5/4 Harwood Union @ Midd. 3:30 p.m.

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

5/24 U-32 @ Middlebury 5/6 @ BFA St. Albans 3 p.m.

5/26 @ Spaulding 5/9 @ U-32 3:30 p.m.

5/11 Spaulding 3:30 p.m.

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PAGE 6C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 13, 2017

MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION HIGH SCHOOL

Mt. Abe

Baseball

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — In early May of 2016 the Mount Abraham baseball team lost to visiting Middlebury, 204, to fall to 0-6.

It turned out the Eagles had the rest of Division II just where they wanted them.

The Eagles bounced back to play .500 ball against their tough Metro schedule until the playoffs, and then ran the table for a D-II title.

“It was an incredible finish to a really awful start. It was fun.

The kids really figured things out six, seven games into the season,” Coach Jeff Stetson said during this preseason. “Fortunately we got some wins in the second half of the season to see some success doing things the way we were asking them to. And that just snowballed into a great tournament run.”

The good news going into this season is that most key players, including the top four pitchers, return from the Eagles’ championship squad.

Three of those pitchers will probably handle almost all of the starts, seniors Adam Whitcomb and George Bailey and junior Dustin Whitcomb, while senior Aaron

Mt. Abe

Fanning could prove to be the relief ace. Juniors Foster Collette and Jon Jennings will also work mostly in relief.

“Certainly George and Adam will be (Nos.) 1 and 1A I would think, and Dustin would be our (No.) 2.

And Aaron looks improved on the mound this year,” Stetson said.

One of the openings in the lineup is behind the plate. In the preseason senior Greg Ouellette, a backup last year, and juniors Eli Rickner and Jared Forand were all in the running.

“I have an open competition at the catching position,” Stetson said.

“We’ll see out of those three which one seems to be able to do the job best.”

Three senior veterans return in the infield. Coleman Russell saw most of the time at first base a year ago and fared well, with Adam Whitcomb available to fill in. Wyatt Gendreau held down second base and enjoyed a solid season, while junior Brice Winchester could spot in this season. Chris Wood returns at shortstop after coming on strong defensively and offensively as the season progressed a year ago.

Dustin Whitcomb could spell him if necessary, Stetson said.

Third base is the other vacancy, with Bailey, Jennings, Forand and Dustin Whitcomb all possibilities there, Stetson said.

Senior incumbents Zach Hines and Keion Correll return in left and center field respectively, while both Whitcombs saw some time in right field a year ago. Junior Leo Farrell and Collette could also patrol that patch of turf and back up the other outfield spots.

“Whoever is hitting” might get an edge, Stetson said, but Dustin Whitcomb will be penciled into the lineup somewhere.

“I could put him just about anywhere on the field,” he said.

The team’s depth and positional flexibility will mean no drop-off

defensively regardless of who is on the mound.

“I’m feeling like we have some decisions to make, but good ones, in that we’ve got players who I think are going to be capable of doing more than one thing,” Stetson said.

Stetson knows expectations will be high this year, but said all the Eagles can control is how hard they work.

“We don’t want to rest on our laurels. We had a good year last year. And it finished great. We want to strive to be even better and try to get to that point of being excellent,” he said. “I expect to have a better regular season. But once you get in the tournament, as everybody saw against us last year, who is hot at the right time?”

juggles his lineup by moving Aldrich back to outfield or behind the plate.

Junior Jenna McArdle moves from outfield to take over at third base, while McCormick said sophomore Erika Tracey would be a capable backup there. First base is competitive: Shahan and senior Megan McIntyre could share the position initially, but McCormick said they might have to hold off a

challenge from Tracey.

Regardless of the lineup, McCormick expects strong defense.

“Defensively, I feel really good about our infield,” he said.

The outfield will see a new look.

Speedy junior Jasmin Gile gets the nod in center field, while Ball could start out in left, where Shahan and Tracey are also options. McIntyre could start in right, while seniors Savannah Earley and Brittany Sheeran and junior Carrie Tracy are also in the outfield mix. If Shahan is on the mound, Rachael McCormick is also an accomplished center fielder.

Certainly, Coach McCormick can mix and match his lineups because of the Eagles’ versatility and what he said would be an Eagle advantage offensively as defensively, the “tremendous speed and athleticism” of his team.

“I have a lot of kids that can play a lot of positions defensively,” he said.

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Baseball Team Coach: Jeff Stetson Adam Whitcomb Name Grade Chris Wood George Bailey 12 Foster Collette Keion Correll 12 Jared Forand Aaron Fanning 12 Jon Jennings Wyatt Gendreau 12 Eli Rickner Zach Hines 12 Dustin Whitcomb Greg Ouellette 12 Brice Winchester Coleman Russell 12 Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Baseball 5/9 North Country Time 5/11 Missisquoi 4:30 p.m.

5/13 Colchester 4:30 p.m.

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

5/18 Milton 4:30 p.m.

5/20 South Burlington 11 a.m.

5/23 @ St. Johnsbury 4:30 p.m.

5/25 @ Spaulding 4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Date Opponent/Event 4/18 Mt. Mansfield 4/20 @ Rice 4/25 @ Burlington 4/27 Essex 4/29 @ BFA-St. Albans 5/2 @ Middlebury 5/4 Vergennes 5/5 @ Otter Valley

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Softball

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — In 2016 the Mount Abraham softball team came within a late rally in the championship game of winning the Division II title.

The Eagles have many key players back this spring as they seek a return to Poultney and, this time, a win in their final outing. But they do have a new coach: Longtime assistant and area youth coach Don McCormick is taking over for Kelly Trayah, whose new work responsibilities conflicted with the time needed to run a varsity team.

McCormick praised Trayah’s work in putting together several successful seasons, including last spring’s run to the D-II final.

“I appreciate what he did for the program,” McCormick said.

“Hopefully I can keep it on track.”

It helps that the coach’s daughter, senior Rachael McCormick, a fouryear starter, returns on the mound and in the No. 3 spot in the batting order, and that junior Audrey Shahan is also an accomplished pitcher.

“The strength of our team is starting pitching. Not many teams have a four-year starter, all-Metro, a pitcher like Rachael, and a backup as solid as Audrey,” McCormick said, adding that sophomore Ruby Ball would also spot in for a few innings.

Although several other starters return, one will not: Junior catcher Brooke Perlee is nursing an injury that will cost her the season, McCormick said. But he believes senior Genysis Berube is ready to step in, and that he has a capable backup in versatile junior Emily Aldrich, an outfielder a year ago who will move to the infield this year and has travel-ball experience at catcher.

“I feel real good about Genysis stepping in,” McCormick said.

“Her quickness behind the plate has improved so much.”

Junior Katelyn Ouellette returns for her third year at shortstop to anchor the infield. Aldrich will get the nod at second base, but Ball could play there if McCormick

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Overall, McCormick and the Eagles have Poultney on their minds after the tough loss a year ago.

“We’ve talked about it in the preseason, obviously. And we felt

like we left something on that field in Poultney, and we’re going to go back there and try to get it,” he said. “I feel pretty confident we’re going to make a good playoff run.”

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Softball 5/9 North Country Time 5/11 @ Missisquoi 4:30 p.m.

5/13 Colchester 4:30 p.m.

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

5/18 Milton 4:30 p.m.

5/20 South Burlington 11 a.m.

5/23 @ St. Johnsbury 4:30 p.m.

5/25 @ Spaulding 4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Date Opponent/Event 4/18 Mt. Mansfield 4/20 @ Rice 4/25 @ Burlington 4/27 Essex 4/29 @ BFA-St. Albans 5/2 @ Middlebury 5/4 Vergennes 5/5 @ Otter Valley

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Softball Team Coach: Don McCormick Jasmin Gile Name Grade Jenna McArdle Genysis Berube 12 Katelyn Ouellette Savannah Early 12 Audrey Shahan Rachael McCormick 12 Carrie Tracy Megan McIntyre 12 Ruby Ball Brittany Sheeran 12 Erika Tracey Emily Aldrich 11

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Addison Independent, Thursday, April 13, 2017 — PAGE 7C

MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION HIGH SCHOOL

Mt. Abe Track

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — The spring of 2016 proved to be productive overall for the Mount Abraham track and field program, with the Eagle girls taking fourth in Division II behind three wins from Lydia Pitts and one

by Emma Radler, both now juniors, and the Eagle boys finishing sixth with a more balanced performance keyed in part by returning throwers Finn Clements, now a senior, and Jackson Counter, now a junior.

They also enjoyed strong turnout, and that has continued this spring, with about 80 athletes in the program, counting 7th through 12th grade.

Those numbers bring a smile to the face of new coach Julie Potter, a 1991 Mount Abe graduate who is getting help from Todd Goodyear and 2010 graduate Cameron Perta.

“It’s very encouraging,” Potter said. “I’m excited.”

Potter, who is familiar to all Mount Abe students as one of the school’s librarians, herself was part of one of the most successful Mount Abe track and field teams. As a senior sprinter, jumper and relay runner, Potter and her teammates won a district championship on their home turf, and a dozen Eagles, including her, went to the New England meet.

She would like to build a program in which more athletes could enjoy that level of success.

“I just loved it,” Potter said.

“My senior year we had the largest group ever go to New Englands, and that was a fun experience …

I’ll always remember that. It was so much fun.”

The Eagles might not win team championships this year, but barring injury Pitts will almost certainly add to her bulging trophy case. She won three events during the winter indoor season after winning the D-II 100-meter hurdles and the long and triple jumps in spring 2016.

Radler will be back to defend her D-II pole vault crown and could also fare well in the high jump, while classmate Abby Perlee returns after placing fifth in the pole vault and eighth in the triple jump.

Potter is also looking to sisters Vanessa and Casondra Dykstra, a junior and sophomore, respectively, to fare well in short and middle distance races (she also

noted their mother was a former track teammate).

On the boys’ side, Counter scored a second and a fourth in throwing events, while Clements earned a third-place finish.

Also back after scoring points in the 2016 D-II state meet are seniors Jude Bunch (fourth in the 300 hurdles) and Andrew Raymond (fifth at 400 meters).

Potter said to keep an eye on sophomore sprinters Ross Carr, Ethan Venman and Takumi Melchior, while junior Derek Jackson finished eighth in the shot put a year ago, and on both the girls’ and boys’ sides Potter expects other athletes to emerge.

Potter has also been impressed with the Eagles’ attitude and chemistry.

“It’s been great. Even though we’ve chosen captains, many of them are leaders. I work here at Mount Abe in the library. Many of

them will come in and check in with me and say, ‘What are we doing today, Julie, for practice?’” she said. “Everyone is just so upbeat and motivated. It is an individual sport, but yet we are all a team as well. Everyone is supporting each other even though they’re working on their own goals.”

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Track & Field Date Opponent/Event Time 4/12 @ Burlington 3:30 p.m.

4/19 @ Essex 3:30 p.m.

4/26 @ Essex 9 a.m.

5/2 @ Milton 3:30 p.m.

5/10 @ South Burlington 3:30 p.m.

5/17 @ Lyndon Institute 3:30 p.m.

5/18 @ U-32 3:30 p.m.

5/19 @ South Burlington 10 a.m.

5/19 @ BFA St. Albans 3:30 p.m.

5/23 @ Burlington 3:30 p.m.

5/27 @ Essex 9 a.m.

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Track and Field Team Coach: Julie Potter, Cam Perta, Todd Goodyear Thomas Howard Name Grade Nevin Jemison Julian Bunch 12 Peter Koenig Finn Clements 12 Patrick Marcotullio Adeline Crosthwait 12 Eric McLysaght Macie-Jo Kittredge 12 Vari McMurray Samuel Kuhns 12 Takumi Melchior Katherine Moody 12 Zackery Preston Andrew Raymond 12 Noah Richards Robyn Arena 11 Oliver Roy Emma Carter 11 Ethan Sawyer Jackson Counter 11 Elizabeth Siminitus Brian Cousineau 11 Ethan Venman Vanessa Dykstra 11 William Wright Derek Jackson 11 John Bent Aidan May 11 Jnana Breck-Arndt Abigail Perlee 11 Owen Darling Lydia Pitts 11 Wilson Edwards Emma Radler 11 Lucinda Guy Weston Alfred 10 Alexis Kouwenhoven Thomas Carlton 10 Cassatt Melchior Maxine Cromis 10 Sydney Perlee Casondra Dykstra 10 Stewart Roza Caleb Hamilton 10 Brynn Winchester Claire Holloway 10

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

Mt. Abe Boys’ Lacrosse

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — The Mount Abraham and Vergennes boys’ lacrosse programs enjoyed reasonably successful campaigns last spring, the first in the newly created Division III for the sport: Both featured veteran lineups and finished at .500 or better in the regular season.

This spring, the programs are united. Both saw drops in participation after graduation losses, and administrators agreed to form a two-year cooperative team that will particularly benefit Vergennes, which saw only five students sign on.

At the same time, Mount Abe Coach Ryan Fitzpatrick opted to step down due to work conflicts.

Thus, the Eagle program imported one more Commodore, Coach Ed Cook, a longtime physical education teacher at VUHS who had led the Commodore program for several seasons.

He will lead a team that, with the VUHS contingent, now has a solid base of 28 athletes, enough to run full-field scrimmages, allow the Eagle program to bring younger players along more slowly and safely, and possibly even survive a couple of injuries.

“I’m excited. I’m excited for the

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse Team

numbers,” Cook said. “I have some inexperience here, but I think I have some kids coming up who are really going to step up.”

Cook believes the team will have strengths in each area of the field.

In the back, senior veteran backup Patrick Davison steps into a starting goalie role. On low defense, senior Will White Pifer and juniors Conrad Marsano and Mason Wood, all of whom have experience, will start, with major support from starting junior long-stick middie Sam Paradee.

“I think our defense will be OK,” Cook said.

Sophomore Grady Brokaw will spell Paradee, and freshman Alder Donovan-Cook and Jonas Schroeder will sub in for the defenders.

Given the weather challenges

of the preseason, Cook was still identifying some of his midfield starters. But he is sure seniors Owein LaBarr and Addison King, junior Toby Bunch and sophomore Nathan Wojciechowski will play major roles.

Junior Nick Catlin and senior Jack Willis are athletic, but lack experience, and Cook hopes they will catch on quickly to fill midfield roles; sophomores Jack Halpin and Neo Weaver, juniors Chris Boyer and Agon Hasani, senior Francesco Iavarone, and freshman Ethan DeWitt are all also in the mix.

As a whole, Cook said the group offers speed and the potential for transition offense.

“I think we’ll be a really athletic team. We’ll get up and down the field really quickly,” he said. “The

top five or six midfielders are all experienced players who can pass and catch.”

Senior Max Ratti-Bicknell was second in goals for VUHS a year ago, and Cook believes he and junior Phoenix King will lead a dangerous attack, along with juniors Ryan Bonar and Lucas Livingston, senior Aidan Brunola, sophomores Ryan Rougier and Angus Schwaneflugel, and freshman Max Konczal.

“On offense, once we settle in, I think we can put some balls in the back of the net this year,” Cook said.

Based on what he saw last year of D-III, Cook said hosting a playoff game or two is a realistic goal for his blended outfit.

“I think we can compete,” Cook said. “When we get to the playoffs, I want people to come to us.”

Coach: Ed Cook Name Grade Aidan Brunola 12 Patrick Davison 12 Francesco Iavarone 12 Addison King 12 Owein LaBarr 12 Will White-Pifer 12 Jack Willis 12 Ryan Bonar 11 Chris Boyer 11 Toby Bunch 11 Nick Catlin 11 Agon Hasani 11 Phoenix King 11

Lucas Livingston Conrad Marsano Sam Paradee Mason Wood Grady Brokaw Jack Halpin Ryan Rougier Angus Schwaneflugel Neo Weaver Nate Wojciechowski Ethan DeWitt Alder Donovan-Cook Max Konczal Jonas Schroeder

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse 5/2 @ U-32 Date Opponent/Event Time 5/5 @ Randolph 4/6 U-32 4 p.m.

5/9 Burlington 4/10 Otter Valley 4 p.m.

5/13 @ Lamoille 4/12 Montpelier 4 p.m.

5/16 Harwood 4/24 @ Montpelier 4 p.m.

5/18 @ Milton 4/26 @ Otter Valley 4 p.m.

5/26 @ Rice 4/29 @ Stowe 11 a.m.

11 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9

4 p.m.

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ADDISON COUNTY

INDEPENDENT

Andy Kirkaldy News & Sports Writer

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e want to be the paper of record for local boys’ and girls’ results, but we also try to go a little deeper than just reporting scores. In our stories, we look at why games are won and lost and how the teams are trying to reach their potential. We also feature looks at some individual athletes, including why they love their sport and what they have learned from them. And we believe sports is not about winning and losing, but trying to achieve as much as possible individually and collectively.

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PAGE 8C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 13, 2017

OTTER VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL

OVUHS

Baseball

By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — The lack of a junior varsity boys’ baseball team at Otter Valley this season may be both a blessing and a curse.

Third-year varsity baseball Head Coach Mike Howe laments the lack of a feeder program for the varsity team, but without a JV squad he has 16 players vying for starting positions, which he says is positive.

“It’s unfortunate not having a JV team, but it allows us to compete for positions,” he said in a preseason interview. “There is only one spot solidified right now. All of these guys want to play. It’s creating good energy on the team even before we step outside.”

Another positive: depth on the mound. While senior standout Derek Aines will often be the starting pitcher, Howe has other players who are vying for a spot on the mound —

OVUHS

By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — Hall of Fame Otter Valley Softball Coach Pattie Candon has declared this season “The Year of the Multi-Position Player.”

Versatility is the name of the game for the Otter softball team this year, and with only 11 players, practically a necessity.

The squad is a bit deeper on the mound though, with senior Courtney Bushey continuing her role as starting pitcher.

Candon said juniors Charlotte Winslow and Christa Wood will split time at first base, and senior Alyssa Falco will be at second.

Senior Molly McGee and junior Grace Coolidge will be sharing catching and outfield responsibilities.

Senior Meghan Hallett is back after taking last year off and will be the Otters’ utility player. Candon will use her in the infield, as relief catcher

13 of them.

“We have 13 guys who can pitch,” he said. “There’s no doubt I can call on any one of them at any time.”

Since taking the reins of the team, Howe has had his work cut out for him when it comes to wins, and his teams have been young and inexperienced. Last year, the Otters went 3-13, but Howe is quick to point out that eight of those games were lost by four runs or less.

The coach is cautiously optimistic that this team can and will rack up more wins.

“We’ve been young the last few years and these guys are hungry,” Howe said. “It’s a good feeling. We still have to go out and play well and win games but we should be able to compete.”

Howe has four seniors, Aines and Dominic McCullough, whom the team voted as co-captains, and

Angelo McCullough and Colby McKay. There are only three juniors, Daniel Allen, Payson Williams and Zachary Bruce, but the Otters are stacked with six sophomores and three freshmen.

Howe said this is a competitive team that wants to win, and he feels that those closer games will swing the other way this year.

“Guys have grown up and gotten mentally tough and I have no doubt

we’re prepared for these situations,” the coach said.

When asked what record would make him happy at the end of the season, Howe was reluctant to say, but it’s clear the Division II playoffs are the goal, and then some.

“I would expect we will compete for a win in every game,” Howe said. “We intentionally make our schedule difficult and schedule as many Division I teams as possible.

It’s all about getting to the playoffs.”

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Baseball Team Coach: Michael Howe Name Grade Derek Aines 12 Angelo McCullough 12 Dominic McCullough 12 Colby McKay 12 Daniel Allen 11 Zachary Bruce 11 Payson Williams 11 Jack Adams 10 Joshua Beayon 10 Kolin Bissette 10 Nathaniel Hudson 10 Marcus McCullough 10 Patrick McKeighan 10 Reilly Shannon 10 Nathanial Blake 9

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

4/7 Burr & Burton 4:30 p.m.

4/10 @ Mill River 4:30 p.m.

4/25 Windsor 4:30 p.m.

4/27 @ Rutland 4:30 p.m.

4/29 Brattleboro 11 a.m.

5/1 MAU 4:30 p.m.

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

5/10 Fair Haven 4:30 p.m.

5/12 Bellows Falls 4:30 p.m.

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

5/17 @ Hartford 7 p.m.

5/19 @ Bellows Falls 4:30 p.m.

5/22 Springfield 4:30 p.m.

5/24 @ Fair Haven 4:30 p.m.

5/26 Mill River 4:30 p.m.

Softball and in the outfield when necessary.

Standout hitter and junior Gabby Poalino is back at third base, and junior Savannah Diaz will be in the outfield.

Freshmen Livia Bernhardt and Shayla Phillips will be used where needed between third base, shortstop and some outfield.

Hitting is something that Candon is hoping to improve on this season.

“The big thing is we’ve got to put the bat on the ball and put it in play,” she said. “Make the other team have to make a play.”

As for strengths, Candon said it’s this team’s veteran infield that is going to make the plays and keep the Otters competitive.

Candon will get some help filling out her bench with a robust turnout for girls’ junior varsity softball.

Eleven freshmen and one sophomore came out for JV this year, and

Candon said their games have been scheduled on the varsity off days so some of them can play for the varsity team.

“So I can have some bodies, some legs on the field,” Candon said, adding that it’s great experience for the younger players.

“They learn the speed of the game,” she said. “You can’t get the out and celebrate, you have to get the out and look for the next play.”

And while Candon retired from teaching physical education at OV last June after 38 years, she hasn’t retired from softball. She had both knees replaced in September and said she is ready to go this spring.

The Otters went 7-9 in Division 2 last season and lost to Randolph in the playdowns.

“I hope we can improve on that,” Candon said. “We’ve got to keep Bushey healthy.”

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Softball 5/10 Fair Haven Time 5/12 Bellows Falls 4:30 p.m.

5/15 Rutland 11 a.m.

5/17 @ Windsor 4:30 p.m.

5/19 @ MAU 11 a.m.

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

5/25 @ Fair Haven 4:30 p.m.

5/27 Hartford 4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Date Opponent/Event 4/10 @ Leland & Gray 4/22 @ Brattleboro 4/27 @ Rutland 4/29 Brattleboro 5/1 MAU 5/3 @ Hartford 5/5 Mt. Abraham 5/8 Springfield

OVUHS Varsity Softball Team Coach: Pattie Candon Name Grade Courtney Bushey 12 Alyssa Falco 12 Meghan Hallett 12 Molly McGee 12 Charlotte Winslow 12 Kathryn Coolidge 11 Savannah Diaz 11 Gabriela Poalino 11 Christa Wood 11 Livia Berenhardt 9 Shayla Phillips 9

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Addison Independent, Thursday, April 13, 2017 — PAGE 9C

OTTER VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL

OVUHS Boys’ Lacrosse

By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — The Otter Valley boys’ lacrosse team is still in rebuilding mode, but Coach Jesse Milliman sees great potential in his team this year.

While graduation was not kind to the squad with eight seniors from last year’s team moving on, and just enough players to field a team, Milliman said the quality and character is high with these players.

“I have kids who are enthusiastic, coachable and give great effort every, single day,” he said. “I’ve been trying to change the culture of the sport at this school, and I’m starting to see a different level of devotion to the sport, and it’s paying dividends.”

The team’s four wins last season was the most since 2000, Milliman said, but it’s not really about wins for this third-year coach.

“To me, I’m not so much concerned about wins as I am concerned about growth,” he said. “If they go out and give 110 percent and I see growth,

OVUHS

By JOHN S. McCRIGHT BRANDON — With the sun finally shining this week, the Otter Valley golf team expected to get out on the Neshobe Golf Club course this past Monday and begin shaking out the kinks. Coach Tom Ryan is looking forward to a fun season for the 10 members of his team.

The top players for the Otters will be seniors Thomas Kingsley and Eric Laughlin, junior William Kelly and sophomore Sam Buswell.

“They will be our core four,” Ryan said.

Kingsley, Buswell and Kelly all played for the Otter team that finished fourth in the Division II tournament last June, with Kingsley shooting an 88. Ryan said that because many other small schools, like Fair Haven, aren’t fielding golf teams this year,

I’ll be happy.”

Captains this season are seniors Tyson Cram and Collin Parker. They lead a team 17 strong, including six seniors, four juniors, six sophomores, and one freshman. Some of those upperclassman are first-year players, like senior Cody O’Connell, and junior Justin Tremblay, plus sophomores Zach Scarborough and Kameron Strickland. All four will start for OV this season.

The squad also has senior standout

Rexall Bautista, who is in the final weeks of recovering from a knee injury that he suffered during football season. Bautista is fast and athletic, and Milliman hopes to have him back by May. Sophomore Alec Stevens will be the starting goalie, with junior Michael Whitney as backup.

Milliman said he is aided again this year with great volunteer assistant coaches in Andrew Savoie, Nathan Doyle and Michael Nunn.

Otter Valley Union High School Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team Coach: Emily Kate Wysolmerski Name Grade Brigid Enright 12 Molly Fisher 12 Ghislaine Robin 12 Sophie Wood 12 Brittney Danforth 11 Ella Chaney 10 Meghan Chaney 10 Madeline Fuller 10 Brenna McCullough 10

Golf he doesn’t know how OV will do at the state tournament this year. He is upbeat for some good individual performances.

“Kingsley and Sam are the only ones I have who could be consistently better than bogey golfers,” Ryan said.

He said two sophomores, Michael Beauregard and Mike Bedard, are the two other golfers that have “meaningful experience” playing the game.

“They will get some experience this year with an eye toward next year,” Ryan said.

He said the rest of the team — junior Hunter Eddy and sophomores Nathan Depatie, Ben Fox, Hayden Hull, Hunter Johnson and Angelina Elliott — are not ready to play a full round of golf, but he was excited to have them in the mix and learning

Otter Valley Union High School Boys’ Varsity Golf 5/11 @ Woodstock Date Course Time 5/16 @ Ekwanok 4/24 @ Rutland 3:30 p.m.

5/17 Neshobe 4/26 Neshobe 3:30 p.m.

5/19 @ Woodstock 4/28 @ Green Mountain 3:30 p.m.

5/22 @ Rutland 5/1 @ Rutland 4 p.m.

5/25 @ Quechee 5/3 @ Manchester 3:30 p.m.

5/30 @ Rutland 5/5 @ Green Mountain 3:30 p.m.

5/9 Neshobe 1:30 p.m.

“They are great, and it’s really nice to have an extra set of hands,” the coach said.

Weather has kept the team from practicing outdoors as of this past Friday, and with numbers low, he is hoping his players stay injury-free.

Other than that, Milliman said he is excited to see what this team can do this season.

“I see this team being very competitive,” he said. “I sincerely do.”

3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

9 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

9 a.m.

the game.

“We can do a scramble with them,” Ryan said. “Their enthusiasm for the sport is there.”

He is hopeful that Elliott — the only girl on the team — will progress this year so that next year, when a pretty good female eighth-grade golfer moves up to high school, Elliott and the younger golfer will be able to compete as an official OV team. “You only need two for a team,” he said.

And next year will come sooner than usual, as golf will move from a spring sport to a fall sport in the 2017-2018 school year.

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Golf Team Coach: Tom Ryan Name Grade Thomas Kingsley 12 Eric Laughlin 12 Hunter Eddy 11 William Kelly 11 Michael Beauregard 10 Michael Bedard 10 Samuel Buswell 10 Nathan Depatie 10 Hayden Hull 10 Angelina Elliot 10

Good Luck, Otters!

OVUHS

By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — The Otter Valley girls’ tennis team is comprised of some very busy students, but they are making time to improve their game this season.

Third-year head coach Kate Wysolmerski said she is encouraged by what she’s seeing in practice and in the first few matches the team has played.

“We’re looking very good,” she said. “The girls are hitting the ball very well. Their ground strokes are strong and they are very dedicated.”

There are four returning seniors on

Otter Valley Union High School Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Date Opponent/Event Time 4/10 @ Mt. Abraham 4 p.m.

4/19 @ Randolph 4 p.m.

4/21 Randolph 4 p.m.

4/24 @ Woodstock 4 p.m.

4/26 Mt. Abraham 4 p.m.

4/29 GMVS 11 a.m.

5/1 @ Hartford 4 p.m.

5/3 St. Johnsbury 4 p.m.

5/9 Montpelier 4 p.m.

5/11 Stratton 4:30 p.m.

5/17 Rutland 4 p.m.

5/19 @ Montpelier 4 p.m.

5/22 Hartford 4 p.m.

Otter Valley Union High School Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Team Coach: Jesse Milliman Name Grade Jove Bautista 12 Tyson Cram 12 Cody O’Connell 12 Collin Parker 12 Tyler Peterson 12 Noah Smith 12 Jonathan McKeighan 11 David Soulia 11 Justin Tremblay 11 Michael Whitney 11 Hayden Gallo 10 Timothy Kittler 10 Zachary Scarborough 10 Alec Stevens 10 Kameron Strickland 10 Ethan Sulik-Doty 10 Logan Corliss 9

Otter Valley Union High School Girls’ Varsity Tennis 5/5 @ MSJ Date Opponent/Event Time 5/8 Springfield 4/6 Brattleboro 5 p.m.

5/11 MAU 4/13 Bellows Falls 5 p.m.

5/12 @ Bellows Falls 4/24 @ Burr & Burton 4 p.m.

5/15 @ Woodstock 4/26 Woodstock 4 p.m.

5/22 @ Springfield 5/1 Middlebury 4 p.m.

5/23 MSJ 5/3 @ Rutland 4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

Tennis the team this year — Brigid Enright, Ghislaine Robin, Molly Fisher and Sophie Wood — and they are also the captains.

There is the lone junior, Brittney Danforth, who is a returning player, and four sophomores: Brenna McCullough, Maddy Fuller, and Ella and Meghan Chaney.

Wysolmerski said that her seniors are leaders on and off the court.

“They do the driving, uniforms, nutrition, mentoring the younger players,” she said. “They are very involved in school and are excellent students, and excellent role models.”

The team won a playoff match for the first time last season, and Wysolmerski said the team intends to keep the momentum going.

“It’s hard to predict the playoffs because there are a lot of good teams,” she said. “But I predict we pick up a few wins over teams that have beaten us in the past.”

Overall, Wysolmerski couldn’t be happier with where her team is at right now as the season is poised to begin.

“They look out for each other and support and each other,” she said of her players. “I’m really looking forward to this season.”

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PAGE 10C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 13, 2017

VERGENNES

UNION

HIGH

SCHOOL

Vergennes Union High School Varsity Softball Team Coach: Mike Martin Name Grade Xzavia Berry 12 Taylor Bresnick 12 Breanna DeSmit 12 Emma Duprey 12 Alyson Gebo 12

VUHS

Eleanor Martin Sophie Rippner-Donovan Lillian Russell Rebecca Unger Rebecca Maloy Megan Tarte Maranda Aunchman

12 12 12 12 12 11 10

Emily Jackson Cheyenne Jewett Rachel Leete Sydney Tarte Sarah Rathbun Hannah Philbrook

10 10 10 10 10 10

Softball

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — The Vergennes Union softball team won eight times a year ago, including a regular-season upset over eventual Division II topseed Mount Abraham and a firstround home playoff win.

But the Commodores will have a new look this season under secondyear Coach Mike Martin: Five starters graduated, including the No. 1 pitcher and catcher.

Martin is realistic about the Commodores’ Metro Division schedule, which includes such D-I powerhouses as Essex, Colchester, BFA-St. Albans and Missisquoi (it will change to slightly less challenging, but still tough, Lake Division slate in 2018).

Those games might be best looked at as “learning experiences,” he said, but Martin expects the Commodores to hold their own against the rest of the schedule.

“We’re going to be competitive in all those games, I fully expect that,” he said.

A big key, of course, is how well senior Aly Gebo and sophomore Maranda Aunchman, who Martin expects to handle mound duties, can handle those chores.

“The pitching is maybe not as strong as last year, but they’ll keep us

in some games, I think,” Martin said.

“They’re coming around, throwing strikes.”

They will throw to a new catcher, sophomore Sarah Rathbun. Martin said Rathbun has prepared for the job.

“She’s worked hard through the winter,” he said. “Sarah’s come along.

She’s a really good athlete, too, and really quick.”

It will help that three starters return in the infield: senior first baseman Taylor Bresnick; junior shortstop Megan Tarte, who began last season with the job but was hurt early on; and sophomore third baseman Hannah Philbrook, who took over at short for Tarte a year ago but will move to her right a few feet this spring.

Senior Sophie Rippner-Donovan will probably take over at second base, while sophomores Cheyenne Jewett and Sydney Tarte will back up the middle infield (and Tarte could serve as a DH). Gebo could also play third base, and Aunchman will back up first base.

Martin is confident in his infielder’s glove work.

“The defense in the infield should be good,” he said.

Senior leftfielder Becca Maloy is the only incumbent on the outfield grass. Martin expects two senior newcomers to win starting jobs,

Vergennes Union High School Girls’ Varsity Softball Date Opponent/Event 4/18 St. Johnsbury 4/20 @ South Burlington 4/22 @ Randolph 4/25 @ Mt. Mansfield 4/27 Middlebury 4/29 @ Burlington 5/2 Spaulding 5/4 @ Mt. Abe

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.

5/9 5/11 5/13 5/16 5/18 5/20 5/23 5/25

CVU @ St. Albans @ Rice @ Missisquoi Colchester Essex Milton @ North Country

4:30 p.m.

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11 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

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11 a.m.

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4:30 p.m.

Xzavia Berry in center and Lillian Russell in right, with seniors Eleanor Martin, Emma Duprey and Rebecca Unger and sophomores Emily Jackson and Rachel Leete ready to step in.

His starters should be able to cover a lot of ground, Martin said.

“We have a lot of speed in the outfield. Those kids in the outfield are really fast,” he said.

By the time the postseason rolls around Martin expects the Commodores to be a solid group.

“You want to be playing your best when you get toward the end of the season,” he said. “That’s our goal, to continue to get better and better as the weeks roll along.”

VUHS Varsity Track Team

➚

Coaches: Brad Castillo Name Grade GIRLS: Alyse Beauchemin 12 Anna Huppuch 12 Sadie Kass 12 Sophia Parker 12 Megan Rooney 12 Munro McLaren 11 Bess Gramling 10 Marin Howell 10 Olivia Hutchins 10 Cedar Winslow 10 Ashley Cray 9 Marlie Hunt 9 Rory Patch 9 Maya Praamsma 9 BOYS: Brandon Cousino 12 Max Ratti-Bicknell 12 Ben Praamsma 11 Dylan Brilyea 10 Spencer Hurlburt 10 Wade Mullin 10 Carter Visicaro 10 Ira White 10 Andrew Woods 10 Erich Reitz 9

VUHS

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — Vergennes Union track and field coach Brad Castillo is once again looking forward to the spring with the Commodore track team, one that he said is hard working and conscientious.

“It’s nice to have a group that’s all clicked,” Castillo said. “It’s super easy to coach it now because they all know what’s expected. They know what the workout is going to be. They know what the work is that’s goes into it.”

The team is not large, just twodozen strong, but offers a number of athletes who could contend for spots on the podium at June’s Division II championship meet.

On the girls’ side senior Sadie Kass if coming off a fourth-place showing at 1,000 meters in the winter indoor season and was 8th at 800 meters at the D-II meet this past spring. Castillo believes Kass can improve on those results if she cuts loose a little bit.

“She’s such a hard worker, and she’s one of the quiet leaders of it all,” Castillo said. “Hopefully the next thing is her not thinking about it so much.”

Senior Megan Rooney finished just out of the money at 100 and 200 meters last spring and joined Kass, senior Alyse Beauchemin and junior Munro McLaren to take fifth this

Track winter in the four-by-200-meter relay.

“I think the 200 and the 400, if we can convince her, will be her bread and butter this spring,” Castillo said of Rooney.

Castillo also hopes Rooney and Kass can team up with sophomore Olivia Hutchins and freshman Ashley Cray to form a competitive 4X400 relay squad.

“If we can keep Olivia Hutchins healthy, I think she’ll be a nice piece for our 4x400, and the same thing for Ashley Cray,” Castillo said.

On the boys’ side, sophomore Wade Mullin and senior Max Ratti-Bicknell (who is also committed to the joint VUHS-Mount Abraham lacrosse team) ran 4-5 at 600 meters at this winter’s championship meet.

Castillo has high hopes for both at 800 meters, a distance at which Mullin finished 8th at the D-II meet a year ago.

“He (Mullin) became one of the top five 600 runners in the state, and Max was right on his heels,” Castillo said.

Mullin and sophomore Spencer Hurlburt as freshmen a year ago also formed half of the VUHS 4x800 relay team that finished fifth in D-II. Castillo believes adding Ratti-Bicknell and junior Ben Praamsma could make that unit competitive again.

He also has high hopes for Hurlburt,

Vergennes Union High School Varsity Track and Field Date Opponent/Event Time 4/12 @ South Burlington 3:30 p.m.

4/19 @ Mt. Mansfield 3:30 p.m.

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

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

5/13 @ Burlington Invitational 9 a.m.

5/17 @ Middlebury 3:30 p.m.

5/23 @ Burlington 3:30 p.m.

5/27 Essex Invitational 10 a.m.

6/3 DII State Championships TBA

who was 15th at 3,000 meters as a freshman, as a solo distance runner.

“I’m looking forward to working with Spencer now that he’s got another season under his belt,” Castillo said.

Possible other breakthroughs for the Commodore boys include senior thrower Brandon Cousino, sophomore sprinter Carter Visicaro, and freshman distance runner Erich Reitz, who could also work his way onto the 4X800 team.

Regardless of the final results, Castillo said the journey would be enjoyable this spring.

“They’re something kind of special about this group in particular, maybe because they’re all so close to the same age,” he said. “Most of them are sophomores, and the last few years they’ve been becoming what I’ve always envisioned Vergennes track could be, just steady and strong and not giving up on anything.”

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Addison Independent, Thursday, April 13, 2017 — PAGE 11C

VERGENNES

VUHS

HIGH

SCHOOL

Girls’ Lacrosse

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — With a little help from Mount Abraham, the Vergennes Union girls’ lacrosse team is taking flight this spring as a full-fledged varsity program after five years as a club.

With a half-dozen Eagle athletes — some of whom have been traveling to practice with the Commodore club for a couple years or more — added to the mix, VUHS is taking on a full Division II girls’ lacrosse schedule for the first time this season.

The team also has a new coach, veteran Vermont official and former college coach MariKate Kelley.

Kelley has been impressed with the chemistry of her Commodore group.

“There are some advantages to a club team. Because as a club team they’ve all had to help each other out,” Kelley said. “So on this team they’re already doing that, and sometimes on a varsity squad there’s not always that much help in terms of the stronger players really helping and working with the players who are learning. So there’s a really good attitude and environment for that.”

Like any program that is still essentially a start-up, experience levels vary, making that selfless attitude important.

VUHS

UNION

Kelley identified in the preseason a core of more experienced players whose roles she could begin to define even before getting out onto fields: Senior Ashley Turner, junior Erin Lawrence and sophomore Jalen Cook are likely to anchor the midfield; juniors Norah Deming and Lexi Chickanosky and freshmen Leah Croke and Siobhan Eagan will be on the attack, with Deming also likely to slide to middie; and senior Jackie Reiss will be a defensive mainstay.

“We’ve got some players who are really strong, and then we’ve got to fill in around them,” Kelley said.

Kelley said sophomore Madison Valiquette and freshman Emily Brinkman are the goalies, while junior Peighton Duprey, sophomore Sara Pichlmann and freshman Chloe Johnston look promising on defense.

Freshman Emma Beauchemin will probably operate at midfield, while Kelley tentatively lists junior Ally Atkins, sophomore Lillian Goodyear and freshman Brianna Billings as attackers.

Final positions will be determined once the Commodores can get out of the gym and onto the grass, Kelley said.

As far as expectations, Kelley is not selling her team short. She is

familiar with most of the teams the Commodores will face, and thinks they can hold their own.

“Looking from officiating, I’ve seen what the Division II competition is, and I think we could be right in there,” she said. “If we pull everything together we could play with any of those teams, but it’s too soon to really know. They have the skills. It depends if they have the desire and can work well together.”

Vergennes Union High School Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Date Opponent/Event Time 4/6 @ Colchester 4:30 p.m.

4/17 @ St. Johnsbury 4:30 p.m.

4/25 Harwood 4:30 p.m.

4/28 Randolph/Chelsea 4:30 p.m.

5/3 Stowe 4:30 p.m.

5/6 Lamoille 4 p.m.

5/8 @ Hartford 4:30 p.m.

5/10 U-32 4:30 p.m.

5/13 @ Harwood 11 a.m.

5/17 @ Randolph 4:30 p.m.

5/22 @ Stowe 4:30 p.m.

5/25 @ Lamoille 4:30 p.m.

5/27 @ U-32 11 a.m.

Vergennes Union High School Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Team Coach: MariKate Kelley Lillian Goodyear Name Grade Sara Pichlmann Ashley Turner 12 Madison Valiquette Jackie Reiss 12 Emma Beauchemin Ally Atkins 11 Brianna Billings Lexi Chickanosky 11 Emily Brinkman Peighton Duprey 11 Leah Croke Nora Deming 11 Siobhan Eagan Erin Lawrence 11 Chloe Johnston Jalen Cook 10

10 10 10 9 9 9 9 9 9

Baseball

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — It was a frustrating 2016 for an inexperienced Vergennes Union baseball team playing mostly Division I competition in the Metro Conference: The Commodores won just once, and then had a golden opportunity at a first-round D-II playoff upset slip through their fingers.

But Coach Dwight Burkett senses 2017 could be different, starting with leadership from seniors Hunter O’Connor and Devon Kimball and juniors Casey Kimball and Will Wormer and, at least early on, what appeared to be good chemistry.

Those factors could help the Commodores absorb some lumps against the top D-I teams and retain the poise and confidence necessary to take care of business against other opponents.

“We were a young team, and some of the losses were hard for them to absorb mentally,” Burkett said. “I have a better feeling of cohesiveness and team with these guys early on, so I’m cautiously optimistic about that.

I think we’ve got enough veterans to show some leadership and help these guys along.”

Burkett also noted that only two starters graduated, while a number of talented newcomers were in the preseason making it difficult for him to project a lineup.

“There aren’t more than a couple, three positions that are locked up at this point,” Burkett said. “We have a lot of the younger kids back that I’ve seen before, but we also have a good group of young kids who I’ve haven’t

seen a lot of.”

Certainly, O’Connor is the ace of the pitching staff, and Wormer returns as the No. 2 starter. From there, Burkett will look to Casey Kimball, sophomores Jacob Gonyeau and freshman Aidan Gardner to establish themselves on the mound.

Devon Kimball returns behind the plate, where Burkett expects freshman Jeffrey Stearns to share time at catcher.

From there, possibilities multiply.

O’Connor, Devon Kimball, Wormer and sophomore Cooper O’Brien might all play first base. Middle infield candidates include Casey Kimball, junior Thomas Richards, sophomores Ethan Bissonette and Austin Goodell, and freshman Robbie Bicknell. Likewise, third base has plenty of competition: Junior Samir Kadric, sophomore Cyrus Devine and Gonyeau are all in the mix.

Junior Ethan Sausville is a safe bet for playing time in the outfield, and the list grows from there: Wormer, Kadric, Devon Kimball, Bicknell, Quinto, O’Connor, O’Brien, and junior unofficial team language tutor Albert Tsai are on it.

How players respond when the Commodores finally get outside, and how they do against a new pitching machine that can dial up eight different pitches and arrived at the end of March, will help Burkett sort things out.

Then game action will provide more guidance.

“The people that are showing me they want to play in practice will get some time. And I’d like to get as many as I could in game situations and give

them an opportunity to show me what they’ve got,” Burkett said.

As to how well the Commodores will fare, he said they have to improve their hitting, “weather the storm” against the top teams, and then pick off games against the rest of the schedule.

“If we can find a way to hit a little bit, I think these guys have their head in the right spot, and maybe we can win a couple, three of those close games we didn’t win last year. And,

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playing in the Metro, if we can end up somewhere in the middle of the pack in the seeding for the tournament, I’m

cautiously optimistic.” Burkett said.

“It would be nice to make a little run in the playoffs.”

Vergennes Union High School Boys’ Varsity Baseball 5/9 CVU Date Opponent/Event Time 5/11 @ St. Albans 4/18 St. Johnsbury 4:30 p.m.

5/13 @ Rice 4/20 @ South Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/16 @ Missisquoi 4/22 @ Randolph 11 a.m.

5/18 Colchester 4/25 @ Mt. Mansfield 4:30 p.m.

5/20 Essex 4/27 Middlebury 4:30 p.m.

5/23 Milton 4/29 @ Burlington 11 a.m.

5/25 @ North Country 5/2 Spaulding 4:30 p.m.

5/4 @ Mt. Abe 4:30 p.m.

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.

VUHS Baseball Team Coach: Dwight Burkett Name Grade Devin Kimball 12 Hunter O’Connor 12 Samir Kadric 11 Casey Kimball 11 Thomas Richards 11 Ethan Sausville 11 Will Wormer 11 Ethan Bissonette 10 Jacob Gonyeau 10 Austin Goodell 10 Cooper O’Brien 10 Gabriel Quinto 10 Robbie Bicknell 9 Aidan Gardner 9 Jeffrey Stearns 9

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PAGE 12C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 13, 2017

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