ADDISON COUNTY — Wet playing fields delayed some local high school baseball games, but Otter Valley managed to get in two contests, and the game that was moved from Middlebury’s creek-side pitch to Mount Abe’s sand pile proved to be a winner for the Eagles. Mount Abe also fell in a rain-postponed game.
The Vergennes nine hasn’t had a game since it beat Mount Abe, 8-7, last Thursday, is scheduled to host Twinfield this Thursday at 4:30 p.m., then the Commodores will travel to Missisquoi on Tuesday.
MOUNT ABE SENIOR Ethan Bissonette, caught attempting to steal home, charges back to third and tries to slip under the tag of Middlebury’s Jordan Stearns. The Tiger successfully tagged the Eagle out.
Independent photo/Steve James
TIGERS-EAGLES
Mount Abe sophomore pitcher Ryan Whitcomb and the Eagle defense were on their game vs. the Tigers in Bristol on Tuesday afternoon. Whitcomb walked one and gave up just four hits as he went the distance to beat visiting Middlebury, 6-2.
The Eagles jumped out to the lead with three runs in the first inning off Tiger senior hurler Wyatt Cameron.
MOUNT ABE RUNNER Jackson Gepfert slides in to second base too late to beat the throw to Middlebury shortstop Hale Hescock, but he breaks up a double-play as Hescock bobbles the ball. The umpire ruled Gepfert safe, saying Hescock was not on the bag when he caught the ball. Below, Max Breault of Mt. Abe is hit by a pitch in the seventh inning and takes a base. 
Independent photos/Steve James
Mount Abe added three more over the next six innings, but Middlebury couldn’t get more than two men across home plate.
Cameron gave up six runs on three hits to take the loss for the Tigers.
The result left both teams with 1-2 records early in the season.
Eagle baseball will host Mount Mansfield on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. and Missisquoi on Saturday at 11 a.m. before traveling to Fairfax on Tuesday.
Next up for the Tigers is a game at Fairfax next Thursday, May 2.
EAGLES AT BURLINGTON
In a game postponed from Saturday, Burlington beat visiting Mount Abe, 9-2, on Monday. Alden Wheeler held the Eagles to no earned runs and struck out seven to secure the complete-game victory.
The Seahorses’ Donovan Montgomery reached base four times on a 2-for-2 day that included a double, triple, three runs and an RBI. Parker Ballard went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
For the Eagles, Parker Hines went 3-for-3 with a double and a triple, and Wyatt Thompson went 2-for-3. Nolan Whitcomb took the pitching loss.
OTTERS WIN TWICE
The Otter nine stretched their perfect record to 3-0 with two home wins. Bellows Falls on Monday was the first victim. With the game knotted, 5-5, in the fourth, OV pulled out two runs, plus two more by game’s end.
The Terriers rallied in the sixth against OV reliever Nate Hudson, to slice the OV lead to 9-7. But with no outs and a runner on second, Hudson clamped down and kept Bellows Falls from scoring any more.
Otter starting pitcher Pat McKeighan yielded six hits and four walks and a hit batsman.
Then on Tuesday Mill River came to Brandon and got spanked by the Otters 15-1.
MIDDLEBURY’S ARRON LAROCQUE is caught in a rundown between first and second base during the Tigers’ 6-2 loss to Mt. Abe on Tuesday. The Eagles’ Ethan Bissonette (4) tags him out with help from Eben Clifford (2).
Independent photo/Steve James
Kollin Bissette fired a one-hitter to earn the victory and Josh Beayon legged out an inside-the-park home run and had two hits to lead the 3-0 Otters at the plate.
Hudson, McKeighan and Marcus McCullough had two hits apiece for the Otters.
The Otters are scheduled to play at Windsor on Thursday and at Mount Anthony on Monday.