Walkoff X2: Wolves take over #1 seed in D1 after 12-inning thriller vs. Lakers

     After losing so many talented players (including their top pitcher), the South Burlington baseball team has been able to find wins and get back to the top of Division 1 in 2025.  But their last 2 wins may have been their most dramatic.

    Less than 24 hours removed from coming back from a 3-1 deficit and walking off CVU, the Wolves were able to force extra innings (and then some) before getting their second straight last at-bat win, defeating Colchester 2-1 in an instant classic at the SB Field on Wednesday night.

    The offenses were kept off the scoreboard throughout the game, with the only runs in regulation coming from an Owen Fullerton RBI double in the fifth and a sac fly by Aiden Gray to bring home Cedric LaMothe (who stole both 2nd and 3rd prior to) in the 7th.

    Both Bennett Campbell (SB) and Jackson Pecor (COL) were outstanding tonight, going a full 9 innings before being relieved in the 10th.  Trey Smith was able to keep the Lakers from scoring through his appearance, while Eli Davis got big strikeouts in the 10th and 11th innings to keep things even.

    In the 12th, Gray led off with a Double and got to 3rd on a single by Sam Kelly.  After Henry Dorman was intentionally walked, Davis was able to get Cade Brouillard (who started the 7th inning rally vs. CVU on Tuesday) to strike out looking before Campbell knocked in the winning run on a hit through the right side of the infield.

    South Burlington improves to 12-2 on the season and travel to Jericho tomorrow for a matchup with Mount Mansfield; Colchester drops to 9-5 on the year and will head to Hinesburg for a date with the Redhawks tomorrow.

Rapid Recap: Hornet Miscues lead to 'Toppers victory

     In a hotly contested game at Ferreira Field on Tuesday, Essex fell to St. Johnsbury 5-4 after the first baseman dropped the potential third out of the 7th inning, allowing the winning run to score.  It was the biggest gut punch for a Hornets team that had to endure several of them throughout the contest.

    A Carson Finn RBI single in the top of the first gave the Hilltoppers a 1-0 lead, but Essex was able to put a pair on the board in the bottom of the inning to take the lead.  After Jackson Lyman struck out the side in the 2nd, leadoff hitter Christopher Morgan sent a drive to the centerfield wall but was thrown out trying to stretch a double into a triple.

    In the 3rd, Finn delivered again with a 2-run double to give St. J the lead back before Bryce Barber hit one just inside the left field foul pole for his first Varsity homer to even the score at 3.  The Hilltoppers were able to load the bases in the fourth before Lyman got Rex Hauser to fly out to center.

    Both starters (Lyman and Cage Thompson) started the fifth and walked the first batter they faced, ending each of their days.  Sam Bent was able to keep SJA off the board, but Essex was able to get one run off of Carson Finn in the fifth before leaving the bases loaded.  St. Johnsbury were able to tie the game off of a groundout that led the run to score while a rundown was taking place at 3rd.

    In the 7th, St. J got a runner to second with two outs before the pop fly that dropped out of the glove of the Hornet first baseman brought him home.  Essex got one man on in the bottom of the inning before Finn struck out Eklof to end the game.

    St. Johnsbury stays undefeated at 7-0 and play back-to-back games with Burlington and Rice on Friday and Saturday, respectively.  Essex falls to 3-5 and are at Colchester on Thursday before facing CVU at home on Saturday.