Williston Observer

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Ninth-inning rally falls short

Sept. 24, 2009

Whereas the Williston Armadillos played flawless baseball the week before to reach the semifinals of the Vermont Senior Baseball League state championship tournament, the Dillos’ defense was vulnerable on Sunday. Errors allowed Newport Columbia to score six unearned runs and defeat Williston 10-8.

The victory did not come easily, however, as the Dillos scored three times in the bottom of the ninth and had the bases loaded with one out before Newport was able to shut down the rally.

“We were one hit away from a miracle comeback,” player/manager Dennis Johnson said. “Today they were the better team as they repeatedly got key hits to score runners and did not make any errors in the field. Our inability to do those two things cost us the game.”

The Williston offense was led by third baseman Pookie Martin (3-4, run), outfielder/shortstop Reid Crosby (2-2, 3B, 2 BB, run) and shortstop/pitcher Greg Bolger (2-3, BB, RBI, run).

On the mound, Bill Supple threw the first five-and-one-third innings, giving up six runs (three earned) on eight hits and four walks, while striking out seven. Bolger took the loss while pitching the last three-and-two-thirds innings, as he surrendered four runs, only one of which was earned, while allowing five hits and walking none.

Although Supple struck out the side in the first inning, Newport jumped out to a two-run lead as their shortstop followed a walk with a home run over the Dillos’ right fielder.

The lead grew to 3-0 in the fourth. Newport scored an unearned run when they recorded a double, the runner moved to third on a fielder’ choice, and scored when second baseman Pete Picard misplayed a grounder on what should have been the third out.

The Dillos, however, scored two in the bottom of the frame. While Crosby tripled, he was thrown out at home trying to score on Supple’s (0-1, BB, run) grounder. Bolger and Martin followed with singles to load the bases. Second baseman Brent Tremblay brought home Supple with a sacrifice fly and Bolger scored on Picard’s single.

Newport bounced right back with two more unearned runs in the fifth on a misplayed bunt, a walk and two singles. The lead grew to 6-2 in the top of the sixth when Newport scored another run, this time on two singles and an infield out.

The Dillos answered with two in the bottom of the inning. Right fielder/catcher Darby Crum (1-3, BB) walked, but was forced at second on outfielder Billy Vegas Daw’s (0-3, run) grounder. Crosby and Bolger then singled, the latter bringing home Daw.

Once again, Newport struck back, this time for three runs in the top of the seventh, two of which were unearned, to make it 9-4. Newport hit four singles and Tom “Bambino” Fitzgerald dropped a throw at home on an attempted put out.

The Dillos cut the lead to 9-5 in the bottom of the inning when Picard (1-1, 3 BB, run, 2 RBIs) walked, took second on a ground out and scored on the Bambino’s single.

Again, Newport responded, scoring another unearned run in the eighth as Crum misplayed a fly, allowing the batter safe passage to second and the next batter singled him home.

Although the Dillos trailed 10-5 going into the ninth, they mounted a ferocious rally to put the game within reach. Bolger’s leadoff walk was followed by singles by Martin and Tremblay to load the bases. Picard and outfielder Ray Danis (0-3, BB, RBI) both walked to plate two. One out later, Johnson (0-2, 2 BB, run, RBI) walked to cut the lead to 10-8 and put the winning run at first. But Newport got first baseman Jesse Stein (0-4) to ground back to the pitcher, who threw the runner out at home. Crum then popped out to shortstop to end the rally.

With the loss, Williston’s final season record was 14-4.

“We had a great season, finishing with more wins than every team but one,” Bolger said. “But once you’ve won this league, you’re not satisfied unless you do it again. Next year, we’ll be better.”

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Sept. 24, 2009

Stymied from a fifth straight victory by a scoreless deadlock at Colchester High last Thursday, the Champlain Valley Union High girls soccer team gets another shot against the Lakers on Saturday.

The Spirit Day contest kicks off on the Hinesburg field at 12:30 p.m.

The Redhawks took a 4-0-1 record into their Wednesday afternoon match against Mount Mansfield Union at Volunteers Green in Richmond. The game was scheduled for after press deadline.

At Colchester, the Redhawks out popped the Lakers in shots on goal, 8-5. CVU net minder Emily Sackett made five stops to pick up her third shutout of the season.

Colchester came out of the game with a 2-1-1 record.

— Mal Boright, Observer correspondent

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CVU football team continues to dominate

Sept. 24, 2009

By Mal Boright

Observer correspondent

The 3-0 Champlain Valley Union High football team gets back into its Division 2 menu Saturday when traditional power Middlebury Union High rolls into Hinesburg for the first-ever gridiron clash between the two schools.

Middlebury comes to town for the 1 p.m. game after two straight wins following a season-opening, 28-6 loss at the hands of Colchester High. Since then, the Tigers have nipped Fair Haven Union, 14-6, and last Saturday tripped Mount Mansfield Union, 13-7.

CVU’s secondary will no doubt be tested, since all five of Middlebury’s touchdowns have resulted from aerial strikes.

In piling up a 42-6 victory over visiting Division 3 Bellows Free Academy of Fairfax on Saturday, the Redhawks dominated play but not the game statistics.

The Bullets had a remarkable 15-2 edge in first downs and ran 74 plays from scrimmage to just 30 for CVU. Nevertheless, the Redhawks were in command all the way; coach Jim Provost and his team took the long view with scoring runs of 69, 47 and 21 yards and added a pair of touchdowns off blocked punts.

The Red and White took charge in the first quarter when lineman Crawford Morris and end Matt Long slammed a BFA punt on its eighth play and lineman Cameron Fitzgerald lugged the subsequent loose ball some 30 yards for the score.

Placement specialist Brian Cherhoniak began a perfecto afternoon with the first of his six successful extra points.

BFA was forced to punt after its second eight-play series, giving CVU the ball for its first offensive play of the game with just under four minutes left in the quarter. Quarterback Konnor Fleming rolled off left tackle and into the end zone from 69 yards out for his ninth touchdown in three games. He wound up with 85 yards in six carries.

Next up for CVU: the darter, J.P. Benoit.

Early in the second period, the junior flashback returned a BFA punt from deep in its territory 14 yards to the Bullets’ 21. On the first play from scrimmage, Benoit busted through the BFA line, rocketed to the right sideline and into the end zone for CVU’s third score and a 21-0 edge.

CVU’s first second half trip to pay dirt came after the second blocked punt, this time by Ian Solomon with Long getting the touchdown.

Fullback Eric Palmer bulled in from five yards out early in the fourth quarter and halfback Alex Zullo got the final touchdown with a 47-yard scamper that was the Doozie of the Day.

Zullo started around left end but was greeted by a looming defensive wall. He then changed direction, shook off a would-be tackler and bolted to the right sideline, zipping to pay dirt.

“Adrian Peterson,” yelled several Redhawks from the bench after seeing Zullo’s pro-like moves. The great Minnesota Vikings running back would be eating his heart out.

BFA scored late in the game. Junior Brandan Bates (57 yards in 17 carries) returned a CVU kickoff 25 yards to the CVU 44. Five plays later, quarterback Andrew Barden connected with end Grady Ballard in the right corner for a seven-yard TD pitch. Defender James Pieper Lococo stopped the two-point conversion with a sure tackle just out of the end zone.

The Redhawks’ air game had just one completion for 10 yards. A Fleming to Collin Teator 37-yarder to the BFA 1 in the second period was nullified by a holding penalty.

CVU head coach Jim Provost praised the work of the defense and the special teams. Defensive back and special teams standout Nick Meunier was awarded the game ball after making several tackles and generally throwing his 140 pounds around all day.

Long was again a force at his defensive end slot, creating several lost yardage situations for BFA. Linemen Mike Bean and Dan Thabault helped keep BFA power back Ben Langelier (17 carries, 91 yards) reasonably contained.

Linebackers Drew Nick, Palmer and others had solid performances.

BFA-CVU, Stats

BFA    0    0    0    6    –    6

CVU    14    7    7    14    –    42

            BFA        CVU

First downs        15        2

Rushing yards    216        236

Passing yards        45        10

Return yards        30        96

Comp-Att-Int        5-12-1        1-5-0

Punts-avg        4-30        4-31

Fumbles-lost        1-0        1-0

Penalties-yards    4-30        2-25

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Sept. 24, 2009

The Champlain Valley Union High harriers will test themselves against New England competition Saturday in the annual invitational meet in Manchester, N.H.

Last Saturday, CVU’s girls team took second place in the annual Burlington High Invitational. Winning Essex High (49 points to CVU’s 61) placed three runners in the top 10 at seventh, eighth and ninth.

Summer Spillane paced the Redhawks with third place, her time of 20 minutes, 17.16 seconds a minute and 19 seconds behind blue ribbon winner Hannah Rowe of St. Johnsbury Academy.

CVU’s Adrienne Devita took fourth, just five seconds in back of Spillane. Laura Jackson, Annie Jackson and Julienne Devita captured the 18th, 19th and 20th places.

The Hawks’ boys team finished sixth, with Zack Pete’s fifth place its lone top 20 finish.

— Mal Boright, Observer correspondent

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