Spring season heating up for high schoolers
Toolbox
Published: May 9, 2005
TODAY: CVU at Spaulding boys lacrosse, 4 p.m.
Two-time defending champ CVU is once again the team to beat in Division I, led by attackman Quin Turner and goalie Conor Shea.
Last Friday the Crusaders beat Mount Mansfield 13-10 behind the efforts of Turner (four goals, one assist), Alex Slauson (one goal, five assists), Brendan Jackson (three goals), Jamie Spencer (two goals, one assist) and Tyler Clavelle (two goals).
On April 27 Turner scored four goals, including the game-winner, in a 7-6 overtime victory against South Burlington, a team that beat Spaulding 16-8 last week after scoring the last eight goals of the game. But the Tide looked much stronger in their 9-8 win on April 27 over defending Division II champ BFA-St. Albans, which blanked South Burlington 7-0 on Friday.
Clearly this is a season where any number of teams could be contenders.
The question for Spaulding is whether the defense is able to hold up all four quarters and if players like Jay Bascom, Andy O'Conner, Steve McKinstry and Ryan Thygesen can shoulder the scoring load.
Bascom tucked away seven goals against BFA, including his team's last five of the game, though chances are the Crusaders will have a plan for both him and Thygesen.
PREDICTION: Champlain Valley 12, Spaulding 8
TUESDAY: Cabot at Twinfield softball, 4 p.m.
The two teams meet again after the Trojans raced to a 17-9 win last Wednesday.
Senior Heather Colgan is the best bet to start on the mound again for Twinfield, which stands at 3-2. The Huskies are 1-3 and likely to start Mindy Carpentier on the mound.
Offensively, Twinfield relief pitcher Kate Martin went 4-for-5 against Cabot and was 2-for-5 in Tuesday's 15-8 win over Craftsbury. Teammates Ashley Buska and Vanessa Powers have also been threats at the plate, while Cabot's Mary Cobb went a team-best 2-for-5 last week against the Trojans.
PREDICTION: Twinfield 15, Cabot 8
WEDNESDAY: Harwood at U-32 boys lacrosse, 4 p.m.
Both teams enter the week at 3-3, with Harwood coming off a 14-3 win over Montpelier and U-32 having pulled out a 13-9 win over Burlington.
Kyle O'Brien has been hot for the Highlanders, tucking away four goals against the Solons and scoring three times in Thursday's 8-4 win over Lamoille. Teammate Chad Miller had three goals against Montpelier and two against Lamoille, with Neil Foster and Dan Morse scoring two goals apiece against the Solons.
U-32's Max Semler had four goals against Burlington, followed by teammates Sean Lusignan (three goals, three assists), Steve Beem (three goals) and Nick Richardson (two goals). Beem paced the Raiders in Thursday's 12-3 win over Montpelier, with Lusignan adding three goals.
Harwood's Jeff Boesse and U-32's Gordon Matheson have also been strong between the pipes, giving both teams reason to feel this is a winnable game.
PREDICTION: U-32 7, Harwood 5THURSDAY: Stowe at Montpelier girls tennis, 3:30 p.m.
The Stowe girls have strung together a tennis dynasty over the last decade, winning four straight titles and seven in the past eight years.
This year's Montpelier team would love to spoil the Raiders' fun.
The Solons are fresh off a 6-1 win over U-32 last week, thanks to singles victories from Claire Watt, Meg Cahoon, Sam Gelfon, Maria Parr and Elena Schneible.
Bethany Augustoni and Julie Williams triumphed in doubles action, where Stowe has typically been strong.
PREDICTION: Stowe 4, Montpelier 3
FRIDAY: North Country Golf Invitational, all day
For Division II and III teams that play nine-hole matches in the regular season, this 18-hole tourney provides the best barometer of the competition prior to Sectionals and States.
Harwood has been sizzling so far this year, having posted a team score of 156 at Blush Hill last Wednesday thanks to Nick Eid (35), Jon Griffith (38), Ben Parker (42) and Chris Barosky (42).
Paul Weston has also turned in some fine scores for the Highlanders, who have claimed four straight victories.
Peoples Academy is a top candidate to snap Harwood's run, boasting similar depth as the Highlanders with a lineup of Ben Hickory, Matt Schoop, Tyler Parker, Griffin Pierce and Vince McNulty. U-32 could pose a handful for both teams, led by Parker Fothergill, Steve Connor, Griffin Labbance and David Shedd.
Among Division I teams, Spaulding should feel optimistic after last Friday's third-place finish in the Patriot Classic at Mount Anthony Country Club. Eric Lajeunesse took medalist honors with a 5-over-par 76, followed by Brett Hartt (90), Oliver Twombley (92) and Nick Pellon (92).
Spaulding's top competition should come from Champlain Valley, Essex, Rice and South Burlington. The Crusaders are led by Ryan Clairmont and Ben von Reyn, while Essex's Dustin Stowell and Corey Dillon each fired a 74 at Basin Harbor last Friday. The Green Knights' top golfers have been Trevor Kenny, Pat Casey, Ryan Ghadue, Drew Hogan and Mike Green, while the Rebels Steve Ploof could challenge Lajeunesse and teammates Taylor Cowie, Charlie Hackett, Aaron Pettine are also playing well.
PREDICTED DIVISION I WINNER: South Burlington
PREDICTED DIVISION II AND III WINNER: Harwood
SATURDAY: Randolph at U-32 softball, 11 a.m.
The Galloping Ghosts carry a 6-1 record into the week and the Raiders stand at 3-3.
Both teams have solid 1-2 punches on the mound, with Randolph using Morgan Stewart and Emily Howe and U-32 relying on Julie Bigelow and Cindy Copeland.
Howe started on the mound last week in a 15-6 win over Montpelier and a 5-3 win over Lamoille, giving Stewart plenty of rest.
The Raiders dropped a 4-3 game to the Lancers in eight innings on Thursday and then fell to Northfield, 9-0, on Saturday.
Bigelow was solid in both outings, but errors plagued the Raider defense and the offense has simmered down. U-32's balanced batting order comprises Krystle Garand, Stephanie Sayers, Megan Mugford, Marie Jennings, Suzanne Waterman, Kristin Wilbur, Copeland, Aimee Plude and Kylie Cowens.
Either Howe or Stewart will give those batters all they can handle, hoping to establish Randolph as a title contender.
PREDICTION: Randolph 6, U-32 2
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