ADDISON COUNTY — In local high school baseball action earlier this week, Middlebury won twice, while Mount Abraham and Otter Valley came up short.
TIGERS
On Monday, the Tigers blanked host Essex, 3-0, as Aaron Smith tossed a three-hit shutout, walking none and being backed by solid defense. Nate Laughlin poked two hits and drove in a run for MUHS, while Matt Dunton doubled and scored.
On Tuesday, MUHS improved to 6-2 by edging visiting Milton, 8-7, in eight innings. The Tigers surrendered three runs in the seventh before winning the game in the eighth when Isaac Rooney walked, Laughlin was hit by a pitch, and Rooney scored on a throwing error on an Oakley Gordon bunt. Josh Stearns earned the pitching win, hit a two-run homer and doubled for MUHS, and Smith singled twice and drove in a run.
EAGLES
On Monday, host Mount Mansfield outlasted Mount Abe, 6-4, despite two hits apiece from Sawyer Kamman,Aaron Benway andAustin Lafayette.Mike Jerome pitched the distance for the Eagles as they dropped to 3-6.
OTTERS
On Monday, visiting Bellows Falls defeated OV, 3-2, despite being held to one hit by Otter pitchers C.J. McCullough andWill Claessens. The Terriers used walks and fielding miscues to overcome OV’s 2-0 first-inning lead, which came courtesy of John Winslow’s two-run double. McCullough took the loss, pitching into the fourth before leaving with an arm problem. The Otters fell to 6-4.