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Rutland Herald Spring Sports Guide 2019
Softball Preview continued from page 5
Otter Valley Proctor
New Otter Valley co-coaches Kelly
Trayah and Toni Poalino want to put
pressure on the defense with the bunt-
and-run game. They have a nucleus
of returning players to fulfi ll that
objective.
Returners are Mia Napolitano, Livia
Bernhardt, Isabelle Falco, Madison
French, Carolyn Lafontaine, Morgan
LaPorte, Renee O’Connell, Stephanie
Palmer and Shayla Phillips.
LaPorte is the pitcher and she made
signifi cant strides last year.
”She isn’t fast but she has control,”
Poalino said.
Bernhardt played shortstop last
year but Trayah said Bernhardt may
move to fi rst base, where her height
would make an inviting target for the
infi elders.
Palmer is a catcher and Madison
French could play there as well as in
the outfi eld.
Phillips, O’Connell and Lafontaine
all have experience in the outfi eld.
Falco is a second baseman and
Napolitano a utility player.
The coaches have been ecstatic
about the early practices.
”The energy has been so good,”
Trayah said. “We were doing a base
running drill (in the gym) and the
cheering was so loud they could hear
us throughout the school.” Again, the Phantoms have just one
senior, so the future looks bright.
But coach Abby Bennett regards
the future as now and her team seems
poised for another deep run in the
tournament.
The lone senior is Sarah Pecor.
Allie Almond covers center fi eld
like no other and also provides
extra-base power in the middle of
the lineup. She has a cannon for an
arm, and is that fi ve-tool player that
coaches love to have.
Almond is one of three juniors.
The others are Amanda Reynolds and
Lyndsey Elms, and both can expect
to see time in the circle. Reynolds
pitched last year for the Phantoms
and Elms for MSJ.
Sophomores are Sawyer Perkins,
Rachel Stuhlmueller, Maddie Lee
and Sydney Wood. Stuhlmueller
came up big defensively at third
base in the playoffs and Wood
is a durable catcher who shines
defensively.
Feisty and tough, Wood is the type
of receiver Bennett, a catcher at
Elmira College, can appreciate.
Freshmen are Katelyn Regula,
Laci French, Maggie McKearin,
and triplets Jasmine, Dez and Angel
Traverse. French and McKearin
were both starters on the team as
eighth graders, French at second
base and McKearin as an outfi elder
and the leadoff batter.
”Our focus this year is on defense
and getting timely hits,” Bennett said.
The Phantoms open on April 8 at
Green Mountain.
Poultney
Young and fast. That describes this
edition of Poultney softball and coach
Tony Lamberton will take it.
The Blue Devils have only one senior
but the circle is a great place to start
with experience. Julia Bruno is back
to pitch what former public-address
announcer Jim Oakman referred to
as “the little yellow pill” in her fi nal
season.
”She has worked in the offseason at
placing her pitches,” Lamberton said.
Kaylah Bennett is back after starting
as the catcher last season in the eighth
grade. She brings productivity to the
lineup after batting No. 3 and No. 4 in
ROBERT LAYMAN / STAFF PHOTO
Proctor’s Maggie McKearin bunts a ball
during softball practice at Proctor Ele-
mentary School.
the order.
There is a windfall by way of neigh-
boring Fair Haven. Kassidy Mack is
back in the blue and gold after playing
in the outfi eld for the Slaters. She is an
outstanding outfi elder, but the Devils
might need her more in the infi eld.
”We are still sorting that out,”
Lamberton said.
Chelbie Olden returns after starting
at third base and Kylie Davis is back
after starting at shortstop. Davis is also
the second pitcher.
The infi eld will be seasoned, with
starting second baseman Pam Bettis
returning.
Lamberton will also have fi ve eighth
graders.
”I am very excited about my eighth
graders. They are all really fast,”
Lamberton said. “I want to emphasize
small ball. I have a very fast team.”
The opener is a tough one. The
Blue Devils travel to West Rutland on
April 13, and will tune up for that in a
scrimmage at Mill River on April 6.
The Blue Devils weathered a 3-13
season, but then upset South Royalton
on the road in the fi rst round of the
playoffs. Lamberton is hoping the
Devils can build on that.
Rutland
Coach Dick Wright is lamenting a
lower turnout than usual at the Divi-
sion I school, but he has experience
where it counts most. Rutland returns
both its top pitcher and starting
catcher.
Skyler Bird is back in the circle
throwing to Amy Howard.
There will also be familiar faces in
the infi eld with the likes of Mariah
Crossman, Sam Bates and Caitlin St.
Germain.
The most experienced outfi elder is
Taylor Surething, who will likely be in
center.
Samera Rideout is a promising
freshman.
”I’ve got some good returners,”
Wright said.
Wright would love to have a presea-
son scrimmage, but the weather can
be fi ckle when it comes to that.
“I’ve had one scrimmage in six
years,” Wright said.
A possibility for a scrimmage is
Whitehall in New York state, either at
Whitehall or in the dome off Inter-
state 87.
Springfi eld
It starts in the circle for the Cosmos,
as it so often does in softball. That’s
where Springfi eld boasts one of the
best. Hannah Crosby is a senior power
pitcher who has mastered her control,
improving it each season.
It is a seasoned battery for senior
catcher Mykahla Jasinski.
They are among nine returning
players. The infi eld remains intact
with Juliana Albero-Levings at fi rst
base, Jenna Veysey at second, Molly
Leonard at third and Mycah White at
shortstop. White came up from the JV
team and started late in the season at
shortstop.
”She really surprised us,” Spring-
fi eld coach Andy Bladyka said of
White.
Outfi elders include Jese Fisher, Ash-
ley Chamberlin and Kayla Gibbons.
The Cosmos traveled to Brandon to
launch the season against Otter Valley
on April 5.
West Rutland
Twenty-two players answered the
call for new head coach Laurie
Serrani.
“I am overwhelmed,” she said of the
turnout.
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