ADDISON COUNTY — In area high school softball action earlier this week, Otter Valley and Middlebury each won; Mount Abraham picked up a win, but also its first loss; and Vergennes lost at home.
OTTERS
On Tuesday, Courtney Bushey tossed a two-hitter and struck out nine as OV blanked visiting Springfield, 7-0. Bushey added two hits and two runs as OV improved to 3-4 against the 4-3 Cosmos. Katie Coolidge added two hits and two RBIs, and Gabby Poalino knocked out three hits.
OV was set to face Fair Haven on Wednesday after the deadline for this sports section.
TIGERS
On Tuesday, the Tigers hung on for a 9-8 win at Mount Mansfield after taking a 7-0 lead. Both teams knocked out 14 hits. Winning pitcher Payton Buxton wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning and struck out five; she helped her cause with a homer, a single and two RBIs.
Abby LaRock doubled twice and drove in a run, Darcy Staats had three hits and an RBI, Taylor Sylvester drove in three runs with two hits, and Ally Larocque and Ella Beattie each chipped in two hits for the 7-2 Tigers. Allison Lane crushed a three-run homer for MMU (2-6), and C.J. Luitjens drilled three hits. Rylee LeBourveau took the loss.
EAGLES
On Monday, Mount Abe roared back from a 6-1 second-inning hole to rout host Rice, 20-6. The 7-0 Eagles took a 7-6 lead in the fourth and then poured it on.
Among those producing at the plate for Mount Abe were Katelynn Ouellette, with five hits, four runs, and four RBIs; Emily Aldrich, with four hits, four runs and three RBIs; Jenna McArdle, who drove in four runs with two hits; Erika Tracey, who plated three runs with two hits; and Genysis Berube andSavannah Earley, who each picked up two hits and an RBI.
Ruby Ball earned her first varsity win with 5.2 innings of scoreless relief. She struck out seven and allowed three walks and four hits.
On Tuesday, visiting North Country (8-1) dealt the Eagles their first loss, as Falcon pitcher Kylie Wright tossed a three-hitter in NCU’s 3-0 win. Mount Abe is 7-1 and maintains a big lead in the Division II standings.
COMMODORES
On Tuesday, visiting Champlain Valley topped VUHS, 13-4. Xzavia Berry walked three times and scored twice for VUHS, Taylor Bresnick poked three hits, and Megan Tarte andHannah Philbrook contributed RBI singles. Aly Gebo took the pitching loss for the 2-7 Commodores.