MIDDLEBURY — The Addison County American Legion baseball team took three of five games played between July 2 and Tuesday.

With a 7-4 record, the local nine has a solid grip on third place in the state’s Northern Division as the season nears the midpoint. The top four teams in the Northern and Southern divisions advance to the postseason playoffs.

As of Wednesday morning Essex stood in first place in the Northern Division with an 11-2 record, followed by. St. Johnsbury (8-1) and AC. Montpelier (4-6) was in fourth.

In the five recent games, AC lost twice to St. Johnsbury, at home on July 2, 12-5, and on the road on Tuesday 11-3, a game in which details were not immediately available. In between, the local nine defeated visiting Champlain Valley on July 3, 11-7, and swept a Sunday doubleheader from host South Burlington, 14-2 and 8-3.

The county Legion team has a homestand coming up. AC is scheduled to host Montpelier at 5:30 p.m. this Thursday, entertain Franklin County for a doubleheader beginning at noon on Saturday, and then Essex will visit at noon on Sunday for a single game.

AC plays its home games on Middlebury College’s South Street field.

St. J AT HOME

On July 2 visiting St. Johnsbury broke the game open with a five-run third inning on the way to its 12-5 win over AC.  St. J scored three runs in the first when starting pitcher Aricin Griffin surrendered a bases-loaded walk and then a two-run single to Connor Decker.

AC then struck for four runs in the bottom of the inning. Griffin hit a solo homer over the center field fence, and Tucker Wright drilled a three-run triple.

But in the third Wyatt Mason and Will Eaton hit RBI singles, and Decker drew a walk to force in the fifth run as St. J took the lead for good. Griffin went three innings, allowing nine runs, three earned, on six hits and nine walks. He struck out six. Brody Barnard tossed the final three innings.

Decker and Mason each drove in three runs for St. J, and Eaton and Averill Parker had three-hit games as their team improved to 5-1 heading into the weekend. Logan Wheeler earned the pitching win, giving up all five AC runs, four earned, in five innings.

Eyon Tembreull poked two hits for AC.

VS. CHAMPLAIN VALLEY

On July 3, AC spotted visiting Champlain Valley seven runs before roaring back for the 11-7 victory. CV’s Harrison Whitman did most of the damage for the visitors, tripling home two runs and driving in two more with a sacrifice fly and ground ball.

But AC fought back and took charge for good with a six-run sixth inning keyed by a Trevor Wright two-run single.

For AC overall, Tembreull stroked a pair of two-run doubles, and Gabe Velez also had a pair of hits. AC also drew seven walks, two by Clark Crary. Crary, Carter Paquette and Tembreull also stole two bases apiece.

Jackson Jennings started and gave up the seven runs in 2.1 innings while struggling with his control, and Tucker Wright earned the pitching victory with 4.2 innings of scoreless relief, striking out five and walking one.

AC SWEEPS SB

AC had little trouble with South Burlington on Sunday with the 14-2 and 8-3 sweep.

In the opener, AC pounded out 13 hits, including three by Griffin, who scored twice. Tembreull doubled twice, scored once and drove in three runs; Wright and Owen Butterfield each had two hits, scored twice and drove in a run; Ryan Brouillard had two hits and two RBIs and scored twice; and Velez had a hit, walked twice, stole three bases and scored twice.

Tyler Kimball started and earned the pitching win, allowing one run, and Brouillard threw in relief. AC played errorless ball behind them.

Barnard stared and won the second game, going 6.2 innings and allowing three runs, two earned, walking four and fanning four.

Mike Dunbar sparked the offense with two hits, two RBIs and a steal of home to give AC an early lead. Barnard had two hits, including and RBI single; Velez poked two hits and scored twice, and Wright and Clary each had a hit and scored twice.