Williston Observer

Strong offense, pitching defeats Hogs

June 25, 2009

In the first round of the upper division playoffs last fall, the Waterbury Warthogs defeated heavily favored Williston, putting a quick end to any thoughts of back-to-back championships for the 2007 Vermont Senior Baseball League champion Armadillos.

“We lost that game because we misplayed two bunts,” Williston’s Dann “DVDV” van der Vliet said. “We went into this week’s game looking to extract revenge.”

Williston rose to the occasion. Once again this season, the Armadillos combined superb pitching and clutch hitting to defeat the Warthogs 12-2, raising their record to 8-0 and securing a two-game lead over the closest competitor. The team scored in five of nine frames, steadily building a commanding lead as the game progressed. The Dillos rapped out 15 hits and collected eight walks to help their cause, with three of them coming with the bases loaded.

Individual performances of note were recorded by shortstop/pitcher Greg Bolger (3-4, BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI), pitcher Bill Supple (3-5, BB, 4 runs), center fielder Ray Danis (3-5, BB, 3 runs), first baseman Jesse Stein (2-3, 2 BB, 1 RBI) and right fielder Brian Donahue (2-5, 2 runs).

On the mound, Supple pitched the first six innings, allowing one unearned run on six hits, while striking out six and walking none. With the win, Supple improved his record to 5-0. He was relieved by Bolger, who pitched the final three innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits while striking out two and also walking none.

“My teammates are tough on me. By the time I come in in relief, we’re usually too far ahead for me to get a save,” Bolger lightheartedly complained.

As has been true in every game this year, Williston scored in the first inning, this time picking up two runs. Danis and Supple singled and Bolger beat out a bunt to load the bases. Second baseman Pete Picard (1-3, 2 SAC, 3 RBIs) and DVDV followed with successive sacrifice flies to score the two lead runners.

After surrendering an unearned run to the Hogs in the bottom of the frame on a double and an error, the lead grew to 5-1 in the third, as three more Dillos crossed home. Danis and Supple singled and Picard pushed both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. DVDV doubled home both runners and scored on catcher Tom “Bambino” Fitzgerald’s (1-5, 1 RBI) single.

Two more Armadillos scored in the fourth inning. Donahue and Supple singled, moved ahead on Bolger’s walk and scored on Picard’s single. The lead swelled to 8-1 in the seventh when Bolger singled, DVDV walked, Stein was hit by a pitch and Reid Crosby (0-3, 2 BB, 2 RBIs) walked to force in a run.

In the eighth the lead climbed to 12-1 as four more runs scored. Donahue and Danis singled, Supple walked and Bolger brought home the first two runners with a single. DVDV, Stein and Crosby all drew walks, with the last two forcing runs home. Although the Hogs scored one more run in the bottom of the eighth on a single and two errors, it was too little, too late, as Bolger retired the last five batters to secure the victory.

On June 28, Williston opens a five game home stand, taking on the 3-4 Burlington Cardinals. Game time is noon.

League standings and individual and team statistics are online at www.scorebook.com. Enter “Vermont Senior Baseball League” under league name search.

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June 25, 2009

By Mal Boright

Observer correspondent

Six graduated Champlain Valley Union High hockey players will lace up the skates for the final time in high school related competition on Saturday in the Annual Make-A-Wish All-Star Hockey Classic at the University of Vermont’s Gutterson Fieldhouse.

Goalie Nicole Bonneau will spend time between the pipes for her Vermont team, which will meet its New Hampshire counterparts at 4 p.m.

For the boys, it will be the Final Fire-up of the Finesse Five plus one when Vermont and New Hampshire stars collide at 6:30 p.m. in the second game of the galaxy twin bill.

Representing CVU are five members of the Division 1 champions. They include Brady DeHayes, Chris Howard, Tim Reichert, Owen Smith and Ben Soll.

The additional one is veteran CVU co-coach Will MacKinnon, who is leaving his CVU post. MacKinnon and co-coach Doug Hopper will be behind the bench for the Vermont squad. Hopper will return to the CVU helm this winter.

MacKinnon, a hockey star at the University of Vermont in the 1970s, played two years in Europe after graduation and coached two years at Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans on his return to the United States.

He and Hopper have been running the CVU program for the past four years.

“It is time,” MacKinnon said this week. “It is never a good time when you like what you are doing, but I have been coaching for more than 30 years.”

MacKinnon will be the decision maker for the Saturday contest.

“All teams (from) Vermont and New Hampshire have been good over the years,” Hopper said in looking ahead to Saturday’s contest. “But I think we have a decent team.”

There will be two practices Friday and another Saturday morning before the puck drops Saturday evening.

“These are all seniors,” Hopper said, adding that they should know the basics. “My biggest concern is in how much have they been skating.”

DeHayes and Reichert will be on the offensive lines, while Smith and Howard will form one defensive duo. Soll will also be back on the blue line.

Bonneau earned the all-star honor after four years in the CVU goal. Over that time she was credited with more than 2,000 saves, which constitutes more rubber than can be found in a tire factory.

Game tickets will be available at the field house on game day. Prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

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Sports are just one aspect of education, says athletic director

June 25, 2009

By Mal Boright

Observer correspondent

In terms of wins and losses, the sports year at Champlain Valley Union High had some solid varsity sports seasons, and then some with campaigns of growth, even if they lacked big victory numbers.

In terms of keeping with the school’s philosophy of the role of sports in the overall educational program, the year has been a good one, according to the man at the top.

“Our goals for athletics are to develop student interest and success in curricular and co-curricular programs,” CVU athletic director Kevin Riell said in a recent interview after school had closed for the summer.

“Sports are not just about wins and losses,” Riell added. “They are all about process and how to get students from A to Z and what did they learn. That is what CVU sports is all about.”

He agreed that victories and championships are nice, but there are also valuable lessons in seasons that have rare triumphs.

Riell just completed his 21st year as overseer of the athletic program. Prior to that, he had some coaching whistles in hand himself in basketball and soccer.

He was asked if today’s kids are different from those in the past.

“Life today is just more complicated for the students,” Riell replied. “They have so many more choices now.”

He noted that in years past athletes would participate in the three sports over the fall, winter and spring seasons.

“Now there is some pressure to specialize in one. Some say that is the way to go. Others would have them spread their wings and find various experiences.”

While Riell is enthusiastic about the number of athletic programs, varsity, junior varsity, freshman and club offerings, he also likes to mention the non-athletic, co-curricula choices available.

“Recently, one of our soccer players was injured early in the season and was looking for something else in which to participate. The individual auditioned for a part in a school musical and got the part,” Riell said. “He said later it was one of the best experiences he ever had.”

Riell said this confirmed for him the idea that having multiple choices available can lead students to develop interests in areas they had never considered.

CVU has an annual student body of between 1,350 and 1,400, with more than half participating in at least one athletic program. Riell considers that a good percentage of participation and notes it has grown over the years.

He said the recent school year was “tremendous for the student body. Goals were being met, sports were kept in perspective and the student council did a great job with the spring Rally in the Valley.”

Active club programs include longboat rowing, rugby and sailing. Riell said a growing activity in Vermont schools has been dance and that too could come to CVU if faculty advisors can be found.

He applauded the high level of community support for all CVU programs.

One of the fastest growing sports is lacrosse, where there were enough participants this spring to field three teams for both boys and girls.

A challenge this fall will be for the 80-strong football program under head coach Jim Provost, who will guide the four-year-old varsity level team through a rise from Division 3 to Division 2.

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June 25, 2009

By Mal Boright

Observer correspondent

The wooden bat tournament found the S.D. Ireland American Legion baseball team with soft lumber in four home weekend games against tough out-of-state opposition (Saratoga, N.Y. emerged from the tournament with a season record of 17-1 and still was not champion), but the Clover Boys returned to in-state division foes Monday and Tuesday with some success.

With metal bats back in use, the locals bumped off Addison 6-4 Monday at the Champlain Valley Union High field, but then fell to visiting Essex on Tuesday by a 7-3 count.

The Irelands return to action on the road Thursday at Knights of Columbus, South Burlington at Dorset Park. They travel to Waterbury for a 1 p.m. Sunday contest and will be home on Tuesday against the Colchester Cannons.

After losing all four weekend games to the out-of-state visitors, the Irelands take a 2-1 in-state mark into the South Burlington match.

Late Essex scores down Irelands

Essex, with a number of players from high school Division 1 runner-up Essex High, broke open an otherwise tight contest with three runs in the top of the fifth and a trio more in the top of the seventh.

Ireland righty Sean Rugg hurled well in a 1-1 tie until Essex got to him in the fifth for a leadoff single, followed by Geoff Green’s RBI double to the gap in left center. Dave Valley’s ribbie single off reliever Andy Kent and a sacrifice fly capped the three run inning.

Jordan Armstrong’s run-producing double cut the Essex lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth, but Essex struck for its three in the top of the seventh on a pair of doubles and two singles.

Essex lefty Aaron Plunkett gave up a final run in the seventh, finishing a complete game six-hitter, walking seven and striking out eight while tossing 123 pitches. Plunkett’s hard stuff created plenty of smack in his catcher’s mitt and he mixed in the occasional bender.

Ireland second baseman Anthony Detoma socked a pair of singles for the second straight game to pace the home guys’ attack.

Montani closes out Addison

In downing Addison on Monday, the Irelands came from a 3-2 deficit with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, keyed by Kent’s clutch two-out, two-run single. Kent came around to score as a result of a pair of Addison infield errors.

Down 5-3 in the top of the sixth, Addison got a run back on a triple and a two-out RBI single.

Ireland coach Jim Neidlinger then called in big lefty Shane Montani, a familiar presence at first base. With runners at first and second, Montani forced a 3-1 ground out to end the frame.

It got dicey in the top of the seventh with the Irelands ahead 6-4. With one out, Addison loaded the bases on an infield single and close call at first, an infield error and walk.

Montani then went to his windup, which he agrees gives him an additional yard on his fastball, and whiffed the next two batters to get the save.

“That was my first time as a closer,” Montani said later.

Justin Raymond was the Ireland’s swatter of the day with a game leadoff triple, two singles and a walk in four appearances. He scored two runs.

Curt Echo hurled two-plus innings in relief of starter Theron Fuller to pick up the victory.

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June 25, 2009

St. Mike’s honors Williston professor

St. Michael’s College professor and Williston resident Dr. Bill Grover received the Rev. Gerald E. Dupont Award from the class of 2009 at an awards banquet held at the college last month.

The Dupont Award is given “in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Saint Michael’s Community” to people who “demonstrate dedication to the ideals of courage, vision, devotion and faith upon which Saint Michael’s College was founded,” according to a press release from the college.

Grover has been a Political Science professor at St. Michael’s for more than 20 years, teaching courses in U.S. politics, political institutions, political economy and foreign policy. Grover also authored an award-winning book, “The President as Prisoner: A Structural Critique of the Carter and Reagan Years” in 1989, which was named the Choice magazine Outstanding Academic Book on U.S. Politics.

Student presenter David Hiltz noted that Dr. Grover’s hands-on approach, coupled with his ability to encourage student awareness and involvement in socially conscious campus groups, made him deserving of the Dupont Award.

Strong pitches from CVU students

Of the 22 Champlain Valley Union High students who participated in an Elevator Pitch competition on June 9 for their final exam in the school’s Entrepreneurship class, three students emerged with the best pitches.

Britney Tenney of Charlotte took first place for A Woman’s World, a women’s only divorce law firm and counseling facility. Michael Bonfigli of Williston came in second place with The Indoor Outdoor Sports Center, which would provide student athletes with a chance to work out competitively year round. Erick Crockenberg of Charlotte took third place with The Club 44, a venue that would compete with the likes of Higher Ground in South Burlington.

The competition consisted of a two-minute oral presentation in which students had to concisely outline their business proposal, marketing strategy and competitive advantage to the judge, which was Kelly Jordick, vice president of the Merchant’s Bank in Hinesburg. In the class, taught by Tamie-Jo Dickinson, students learned that mastering this type of presentation is essential for prospective business owners, as it can make or break any future their business ideas may have.

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