ADDISON COUNTY / BRANDON — Otter Valley and Middlebury Union both claimed victories in high school softball action late last week, while Vergennes and Mount Abraham both suffered setbacks.
OV BLASTS RUTLAND
Junior Taylor Aines had an excellent outing on the mound for OV on Friday, allowing only two hits in a 10-0 shutout vs. Rutland in Brandon. She struck out eight and walked none.
Rutland did not get to first base until the fourth inning, when Rutland’s Karli McGinnins and Bree Crossman both singled.
But they failed to score, and OV batters blasted Rutland’s Leigh-Ann LaPante for 16 hits. That included a two-run homer by Aines, who also had a single and ended up with 3 RBIs.
OV senior Meranda Bassette tallied a single, double and an RBI; and juniorsBrittany Bushey (two hits and two RBIs)and Olivia Bloomer (RBI double) also had strong performances.
The Otters improved to 3-1 and will host Fair Haven on Monday, and play at Mount Anthony on Tuesday and Springfield on Thursday.
TIGERS OVER CVU
MUHS jumped out to a big lead in the third inning of a Thursday afternoon game at Champlain Valley Union when the Tigers scored six runs on three Redhawk errors. Middlebury extended its lead and came home with a 13-2 victory.
Justina Baker, a junior, earned the pitching win for Middlebury and sophomore Krisdandra Provencher had multiple hits for the Tigers, who improved their record to 2-3. CVU’s Claire Potter took the loss as the Redhawks’ record slid to 1-3.
MUHS hosts Milton on Tuesday and Mount Abe on Thursday.
BFA EDGES EAGLES
In Bristol on Friday, visiting pitcher Sam Dussault struck out three in a row in the final inning to claim a 7-6 win for BFA-St. Albans. A two-run triple sparked BFA in the third inning.
Mount Abe’s Meghan Livingston was 2-for-4, scored two runs and stole three bases in the setback. Losing pitcher Haley Davis was 2-for-2 with a walk.
The Eagles were scheduled to play at Harwood on Saturday, but no result was available as of press time.
Mount Abe hoses Colchester on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. and faces county foe Middlebury at MUHS on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
VUHS LOSES BY ONE
Vergennes lost a one-run game to Division-I Burlington, which was led by Ilona Maher. She not only struck out 10, but recorded eight hits to improve Burlington’s record to 3-1.
Emilee Turdo took the loss for Vergennes; she struck out five but gave up six hits. Dani Brown went 2-for-4 and scored a run.
Vergennes (3-1) next plays at Rice on Thursday.