BRANDON — Hannah Williams’s first varsity win as a pitcher translated to Otter Valley softball’s first varsity win this season, as the Otters handled Mount Abraham at home Saturday, 10-4.
OV’s victory dealt the Eagles their first loss of the season.
Otter Coach Pattie Candon was relieved for her team, which was the defending Division II champions and had a 0-3 record coming into Saturday’s game.
“It’s just good for the kids,” Candon said. “When you start with a loss or two, it’s all about, ‘What can we build on for the next game?’”
Candon said the team has improved tremendously with each loss this season, converting what they’ve learned in a win against the Eagles.
Vs. Mount Abe the Otters found their stride early and kept it. With a 4-3 lead at the bottom of the third, OV batters continued to tee off on the Eagles’ sophomore pitcher Rachel McCormick. The hit-fest was punctuated by a long double by OV senior Laura Beth Roberts. By the end of the third inning, the Otters had padded their lead, 9-3.
“We’re making good contact,” Candon said after the game, expressing faith in her rotation. “The top gets on and we move them around the best we can.”
Mount Abe Coach Kelly Trayah said he expected OV would be a difficult opponent coming in on Saturday.
“I knew OV is always tough on defense,” he said. “Rachel struggled early and you can’t struggle with this team. Then we hit soft at them, and you can’t do that against this team either.”
Mount Abe goes into a three-game week this week, hosting Essex on Tuesday, then playing at Middlebury on Thursday and at St. Johnsbury next Saturday.
The Otters, now 1-3, also have a full schedule in the coming week, where they hope to put together another win or two. OV travels to Springfield on Tuesday, hosts Leland & Gray on Thursday and goes to Hartford on Friday.