ADDISON COUNTY — In local high school softball action last week as the regular season ended, Middlebury won twice and clinched a first-round home game, both Vergennes and Mount Abraham won on the road, and Otter Valley was upset on the road.
Playoffs will begin this week with games on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Vermont Principals’ Association was set to release playoff pairings on Monday morning.
TIGERS
On Thursday, the Tigers thumped host South Burlington, 23-0, concluding the game by scoring 15 runs in the sixth inning. MUHS hurler Payton Buxton tossed a one-hitter, striking out nine and walking none, for her second shutout in three outings. Hannah Lawrence and Makayla Foster rapped three hits apiece, Sondra Laroche homered, and Autumn Laplant andJordan Hubbell had two hits each.
On Saturday, Buxton tossed a complete game four-hitter with 12 strikeouts and no walks as the Tigers edged visiting St. Johnsbury, 3-1. Buxton, Lily Smith and Abby Lane poked RBI hits as the Tigers concluded the season with a four-game winning streak to finish 8-6. Buxton allowed only two runs in those four games, and the surge apparently allowed the Tigers to edge the Eagles for the No. 5 seed.  No. 12 Woodstock (7-9) is the Tigers’ probable first-round foe. 
EAGLES
On Friday, the Eagles surprised D-I power BFA-St. Albans, 12-10, dropping the Bobwhites to 13-3. Rachael McCormick earned the pitching win and also paced the Eagle offense with a triple and two singles.
The Eagles improved to 9-7 and jumped a couple places in the D-II standings to No. 6 with the D-I road win. They are likely to entertain Lake Region (6-9) in the first round.
COMMODORES
On Thursday, VUHS scored three times in the sixth inning to rally past host Missisquoi, 7-5. Winning pitcher Tamara Aunchman threw a complete game and homered; Taylor Bresnick double home a run and singled, K.C. Ambrose scored twice and had two hits, and Megan Martin added two hits for the Commodores.
VUHS improved to 8-8 by upsetting the 10-6, D-I T-Birds and apparently will earn the No. 9 seed in D-II.
OTTERS
On Friday, host Mill River surprised the Otters, 18-14. MRU won for just the third time this spring, while OV finished at 6-10, apparently good for the No. 13 seed and a first-round date with No. 4 Milton (10-6).  
Hannah Williams took the pitching loss for the Otters, and Gabby Poalino stroked three hits.