ST. ALBANS — The 10-to-12-year-old all-stars from Champlain are headed back to Bristol. Yet again.
Riding Ellis Montgomery’s complete-game performance in the circle and a momentum-shifting, three-run second inning, Champlain ousted Colchester for a 5-3 victory in the Vermont Little League softball state championship game at St. Albans Bay Town Park on Saturday, July 12.
Three-time defending state champion Champlain booked its spot at the New England Region Tournament in Bristol, Connecticut, and will play its first game on Monday, July 21 against the winner of Rhode Island and Maine.
“This one means a lot. Going down there is very special,” said Champlain manager Mike Conger, who will make his fourth trip overall to Bristol with a Vermont state champion.
Colchester, which came into the game undefeated through district and state tournament play, seized a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Ella Carey walked, stole second and third, and then scooted home on a passed ball.
In the top of the second, Champlain scored three runs, all with two outs, and without recording a hit. Champlain took advantage of four walks and a hit by pitch to plate its runs and earn a 3-1 margin.
“We talked about being patient at the plate,” Conger said. “(Colchester ace Madison Besaw’s) a heck of a pitcher and she has some nice speed.”
Colchester got one back in the bottom of the third when Carey tripled with two outs and then scored on an error.
Ahead 4-2 to start the sixth, Champlain tacked on an insurance run when Bailee Conger’s hit allowed Kinsley Winegar to come home. Champlain could’ve opened a bigger advantage, but Carey came in on relief of Colchester’s second pitcher, Jordyn Burghdurf, and proceeded to induce a pop fly and strike out two batters with the bases loaded and no outs.
Colchester made a comeback bid in the final frame. Quinn Bouchard walked with one out and then later scored on Lucy McHugh’s sharp single to right. But Montgomery got a groundout and a pop-up to stave off the rally and seal Champlain’s championship three-peat.
“We had total faith in her,” Mike Conger said of Montgomery. “She’s put in so much work since the winter, so many of these girls have.”
Champlain opened the state tourney with a loss in extra innings to Connecticut Valley. Champlain then mercy-ruled Northeast and Connecticut Valley in a rematch to advance to the final vs Colchester.
“We go out there and battle and compete. Just a fine group to be around,” Conger said.
Green Mountain cruises to 8-10 softball state crown
Behind Dottie Green’s lights-out pitching and a deep hitting lineup, the 8-to-10-year-old stars from Green Mountain roared to the Vermont Little League softball state title with a 9-0 win over Essex in the tournament final at Northfield on Friday, July 11.
Green Mountain, comprised of teams across Central Vermont, outscored opponents 51-0 over six tournament games (district and state), according to team manager Katie Green. Green Mountain ace Dottie Green totaled 81 strikeouts against 106 batters faced, while catcher Lily Brynga allowed only just one passed ball out of 466 pitches.
Green Mountain’s offense racked up 47 hits. Brynga scored nine runs and Arie DeFreest led the team in on-base percentage. Brynga and Green had homers during tournament play, and Mackenzie Bean, Mackenzie Messier, Serena VanderBush and Brynga also produced extra-base hits.
Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter:@aabrami5.
