EAGLE SHORTSTOP GEN Forand thumps a two-run double during the Mount Abe softball team’s Monday quarterfinal win over visiting Milton.
Independent photo/Steve James

ADDISON COUNTY — The No. 2 Mount Abraham and No. 3 Otter Valley softball teams rolled into the Division II playoffs semifinal round, but No. 8 Middlebury saw its quarterfinal upset bid fall just short.

The Eagles and Otters were scheduled to play each other in Bristol on Tuesday, but a problematic forecast moved that game to Wednesday after deadline for the Thursday print edition. The Independent will update this article with details online on Thursday.

The D-II final will be played at a date and time to be announced at Castleton University. Rice and Lyndon were set to play in the other semifinal.

The 15-3 Otters are seeking their first title since 2014, and the Eagles are eyeing their first since 2023 and sixth since 2017. OV entered Wednesday riding a 12-game winning streak, but their last loss dates back to a 19-7 home setback to the Eagles on May 1.

Looking ahead to the final, neither local team has faced Lyndon this spring. OV has not met Rice, but the Eagles played them twice this season, winning at Rice, 13-7, but losing at home to the Green Knights, 19-9.

EAGLES

On Monday the Eagles opened their playoff quest by brushing aside No.10 Milton, 25-10, in a quarterfinal game that was not as close as the final score might indicate. Mount Abe led, 19-0 after four innings, when Coach Don McCormick pulled starting pitcher Gretchen Toy, who to that point had not allowed a run, surrendered just one hit and one walk, and fanned six Yellowjackets.

The Eagles led by 10-0 after three innings and essentially ended the game by adding nine more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Brooklyn Ryersbach helped stake Mount Abe to an early lead with a three-run homer and added two more hits, and she was just one of many offensive contributors for the Eagles.

THE MOUNT ABE softball team greets teammate Brooklyn Ryersbach at the plate after she belted a three-run homer early in the Eagles’ quarterfinal win over visiting Milton.
Independent photo/Steve James

Also chipping in were Abba Parker (two doubles, single, four RBI), Reagan LaFreniere (homer, single, three RBI), Leah Tierney (three hits), Morgan Larocque (double, single), Gen Forand (two-run double), Emmali Rougier (two hits, two RBI), Nora Hurlburt (double, two singles), and Toy (solo homer).

Once Toy left the mound, Milton started scoring. Olivia Hayden (four hits, RBI), Sydney Greenfield (solo homer), and Cianna Tomasi (hit, two RBI) were productive for the 7-10 Yellowjackets.

OTTERS

In Brandon on June 6 the Otters defeated No. 6 Hartford, 9-3, in their quarterfinal, breaking a 3-3 tie with a four-run fourth inning and cruising home from there.

Hartford scored in the first on hits by Emerson Whitney and Haley Maxham and in the second on a Faith Brown sacrifice fly.

OV matched them with two runs in the first on a homer by pitcher Sophia Parker and singles by Leanne Thomas and Kaylee Maloy, and tied the game in the second when Randi Lancour walked and worked her way around the bases to score.

EAGLE JUNIOR GEN Forand bends out of a pitch that zooms in high and tight during the Eagle softball team’s quarterfinal win over visiting Milton on Monday.
Independent photo/Steve James

The Otters broke the game open in the fourth when Hannah Desabrais belted a two-out, three-run double off losing pitcher Serenitee Martel. OV loaded the bases on a Maloy single and walks to Noelle Seigle and Parker. The walk to Parker was intentional and didn’t pay off because it brought Desabrais to the plate. Maloy soon also scored, and it was 7-3.

OV added its final two runs in the sixth. Desabrais reached base, and Thomas singled her home and scored on an error on the play.

Parker went the distance on the mound, striking out seven, walking none and allowing seven hits.

Martel struck out 13 and also allowed seven hits, but they included the bases-clearing double and Parker’s homer. Hartford finished at 11-6, including three losses this spring to the Otters.

TIGERS

On June 5 top-seeded Lyndon (11-1-1) rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to deny the No. 8 Tigers’ upset bid, 8-7.

The Tigers took a 7-4 lead by the third inning with an attack powered by Lily Dame and Skyler Choiniere, each of whom tripled and singled, and Lexi Whitney, who doubled and singled. But Viking reliever Jenna Royer got the final out in the third inning and shut the Tigers out the rest of the way, allowing four hits, walking none and striking out two.

EAGLE SENIOR ABBA Parker makes solid contact during the Eagle softball team’s Monday quarterfinal win over visiting Milton.
Independent photo/Steve James

Kendall Hale’s infield hit off Whitney scored the winning run in the seventh. Whitney allowed eight runs, seven earned, on six hits and seven walks. Ella Marshia and Jill Dwyer each had two hits for Lyndon.

Dame, Whitney, Meredith Cameron and Emma Morrissey suited up for the MUHS softball team for the last time on that Thursday.