ADDISON COUNTY — The Mount Abraham Union High School baseball team may have officially reached dynasty status this spring, when the Eagles made their seventh appearance in a Division II championship game in 10 years and won their fifth title in those seven tries.
The Eagles also continued their recent lock on Addison Independent Baseball Player of the Year honors, as Mount Abe senior Shawn Marcelle’s outstanding work pitching and batting leadoff earned him that distinction this spring. In all, five of Coach Jeff Stetson’s 15-5 Eagles earned spots on the 2010 Addison Independent Baseball All-Star Team.
Players from the other three local teams also enjoyed outstanding campaigns. Coach George Ringer’s Vergennes team finished 7-9 after moving back to the tough Metro Conference, good enough to earn a home playoff game that ended as a tough, extra-inning loss. Two Commodores are honored here.
Coach John Riter’s Otter Valley nine finished at 6-11, a record that included four losses by one run. Two Otter seniors are recognized here.
Coach Doc Seubert’s Middlebury team, inexperienced on the field and especially on the mound, ended up with just one win. A senior leader with a solid glove and a knack for stealing bases made the Independent squad.
Selections were made based on observation, statistics and consultation with the coaches. Congratulations to the following:
SHAWN MARCELLE, MOUNT ABE SENIOR, PLAYER OF THE YEAR. Notes: Co-captain who sparked Mount Abe on the mound, recording more than half the Eagles’ wins, and at the plate, leading all local players in runs scored … Compiled an 8-1 pitching record against tough Metro Conference competition with an earned-run average of 1.29 … Struck out 111 while allowing 47 hits and 36 walks in 70.2 innings … Batted .365 and compiled a .500 on-base percentage out of the leadoff spot … Scored 25 runs and drove in 8, stole 16 bases, and rapped five doubles, a triple and two homers.
Stetson’s Quotes: “He threw a lot of innings, and all his innings were high quality … His strikeout-to-walk ratio was unreal … Shawn was our main man on the mound, no question about it … When he got on base, he made things happen, and he got on base half the time … He was a great leader in that he knew how to talk to each kid.”
JOEY MASSORES, OV SENIOR. Notes: Capped his outstanding four-year varsity career with a big offensive season … Batted .375 with pop, drilling five doubles, two triples and three homers, and driving in an area-high 22 runs … Reached base at a local-best .525 clip and scored 18 runs … Played solid shortstop … Prevented from assuming regular mound duty by a football injury, but earned two pitching wins in relief.
Riter’s Quotes: “He’s been a four-year starter and had another good year at the plate … It’s unfortunate he wasn’t available to pitch this year … He’s very coachable and always ready to practice and learn. He’s a good influence on the rest of the team … He’s truly an asset to have on the team.”
LOGAN WILLIAMS, VUHS SENIOR. Notes: Steady defensive catcher and reliable pitcher who was a force in the batter’s box for the Commodores … Batted .369 with an OBP of .429, laced six doubles and a homer, stole six bases, scored 13 runs and drove in 15 …  Compiled a 3-4 pitching record in the Metro with a 4.47 ERA, striking out 32 and walking 13 in 48.1 innings … Beat Mt. Mansfield in the regular season and tossed six-plus innings of shutout ball in the postseason.
Ringer’s Quotes: “He was definitely right in the middle of our offense … We got off to a good start largely due to Logan … He got the tough assignments pitching and he kept us in games. He kept us in every game he pitched … He was definitely our most valuable player.”
STEVE PATTERSON, MOUNT ABE SENIOR. Notes: Slugging outfielder who led all local players with four homers and drove in 21 runs … Batted .393, earned a team-best OBP of .507 by drawing 12 walks, popped three doubles and a triple, and scored 13 runs despite being lifted at times for pinch runners … Fine outfielder who tracks fly balls well and has a strong arm.
Stetson’s Quotes: “He was just a steady kid for us all year … He plays a solid outfield … I wanted him to be the guy catching (fly balls) out there … He had great power to right center field … He was a hitter … He loves the game of baseball.”
RYAN SIEGLE, MOUNT ABE SENIOR. Notes: Clutch clean-up hitter whose key RBIs included the game-tying single in the bottom of the seventh in the D-II final … Batted .410 with an OBP of .493, scored 17 runs and drove in 19 … Showed pop with two doubles, a triple and a homer … Performed well at second base and outfield.
Stetson’s Quotes: “Ryan had a great year for us … He was solid at second base and turned into a pretty steady outfielder … He’s just a good kid and a really strong athlete … He had a lot of really key hits for us this year.”
ADAM POULIOT, MOUNT ABE SENIOR. Notes: Thrived both in the field at shortstop and in the No. 2 spot in the Mount Abe batting order … Showed good range, hands and anticipation in the field … Batted .322 and showed good plate discipline to reach base at a .467 clip … Scored 19 runs, including three in the D-II final, drove in six, and laid down five sacrifice bunts.
Stetson’s Quotes: “He always seemed to get every runner by half a step … He had that uncanny ability to read the situation and understand the play … He is extremely knowledgeable and helped the entire infield … He was a wonderful kid to be around … He proved to be one of the most pleasant surprises with the bat this year.”
JACK MARKOSKI, OV SENIOR. Notes: Three-year starter for OV who excelled as a defensive outfielder and came into his own in the batter’s box … Batted .330 with three doubles and drove in 15 runs … Showed patience at the plate to compile an OBP of .475, and scored 13 runs.
Riter’s Quotes: “He was a three-year starter, and this was his best year at the plate … He always got a hit or a walk or put the bat on the ball consistently … He’s been a solid outfielder. He’s definitely a really solid player.”
COLLIN CURLER, VUHS SOPHOMORE. Notes: Sure-handed shortstop who committed just one error while recording 28 putouts and 38 assists for a .985 fielding percentage … Competitive athlete who contributed offensively with a batting average of .291 and an OBP of .361 … Scored 12 runs and hit three doubles.
Ringer’s Quotes: “He made some unbelievable plays this year … He has a decent arm for his position … He gets to stuff … Defensively, he was probably our steadiest guy out there … He’s got a little pop.”
RYAN FOLEY, MUHS SENIOR. Notes: Team leader and fine shortstop who participated in a dozen double plays and started one triple play … Led the Metro Conference with 19 stolen bases, and was not caught stealing … After a slow start at the plate finished with a batting average of .244, scored 12 runs and drove in seven … Scored the winning run from second base on a single in the bottom of the seventh in the Tigers’ only victory.
Seubert’s Quotes: “He made some great plays … He was our go-to guy in terms of making things happen on base … Ryan was a great captain … He was a willing motivator of the team, always kept a positive attitude … He was the kind of player everyone turned to on a team that was struggling for consistency, because he didn’t give up.”
SAM LIEBERMAN, MOUNT ABE SENIOR. Notes: Team leader and fine fielding third baseman who had a solid all-around season … Batted .339 and had an OBP of .432 while making consistent contact, striking out just seven times … Drove in 10 runs and scored 15 runs, including the ninth-inning game-winner in the D-II final after an adventurous evening. 
Stetson’s Quotes: “He was pretty steady for most of the year for us at third base … He was a very good leader for us. He was not in-your face vocal, but (said) ‘This is the way we do things here in this program’ … He put the ball in play … He had a nice season.”
Reporter Andy Kirkaldy is at [email protected].