On June 13th, 3 teams got to lift the Vermont high school baseball trophy and be crowned Division champions. For 1 team, they went back-to-back; for another, it's a redemption story many couldn't believe; for the third, the end of a perfect season and a 4-year title drought. Let's look back at Saturday's title tilts.
D3: Thetford 8, Bellows Falls 0
As I've mentioned earlier in the week, Thetford's Xander Oshoniyi was a freshman who nearly no-hit White River Valley when they won the D3 title back in 2023, their first of what it now 3 title game appearances in 4 years. In 2025, Oshoniyi and Miles Lawrence combined to knock off the Wildcats again. In 2026, same 2 pitchers, roles reversed and Lawrence went longer and delivered another masterpiece.
Oh, and he's a Sophomore!
The Panthers used Lawerence's brilliance and Tommy Amber's 3-RBI Day to stymie Bellows Falls and capture back-to-back titles 8-0 over the Terriers.
After a bases-loaded walk plated Thetford's first run in the second and a passed ball made it 2-0, Amber delivered with a 2-run triple deep to right field. An errant throw allowed him to score on the play, capping off the 4-run inning.
While BF had their chances (including putting 2 runners on in the fifth), Lawrence was able to shut down the Terriers, only allowing 3 hits along with 3 walks and 7 Ks in 6 innings pitched.
Oshoniyi would come on in the 7th and strike out the side to complete his high school career the same way he ended his freshman year: as state champion.
D2: Mount Abraham 5, Lyndon 3
There are few things that will make me bias when it comes to high school sports. My alma mater and my family are at the forefront of that. One of those family members happens to be Mount Abraham's Calvin Peck.
So, think about how I felt when he was at the plate and the Eagles capitalized on a double steal of 2nd and home to tie the Division 2 championship game against Lyndon Institute.
It started a 4-run 4th that would be the difference in Mount Abe's 2-year redemption story as they would finally clinch the state title 5-3 against the Vikings at Centennial Field.
Lyndon would get on the board first in the top of the 2nd when Connor Wood laced a 2-run single off of starter Evan Corrigan. Mount Abe would get 1 back in the 3rd on an RBI groundout from Clark Crary to score Mazur.
In the 4th, the Eagles put runners on the corners for Peck when Brody Barnard stole second and Corrigan stole home to make it 2-2. After a wild pitch from Ray Powers scored Barnard, Jackson Jennings scored Peck to make it 4-2. An MAU RBI groundout made it 5-2 Eagles after 4.
After an amazing catch from Stefan Johnson in center led to a double play to end the 6th, Abe Ready would allow a run in the 7th before getting the final out.
When that last swing and missed happened, there was a delayed reaction before the celebration began. Alex Abrami noted that it might have had to do with what happened in 2024, when they had the title won only to have it overturned because a runner left the lane early to celebrate the potential winning moment.
This time, 2 years later, The Eagles can celebrate their title win.
D1: Essex 5, Mount Anthony 0
The 2026 Essex Hornets have been a fun team to watch. They went undefeated through the regular season, have had amazing pitching performances from the likes of Laroche, Bent, Barber and Max Smith, and had great offensive performances from the top of their lineup.
In their semifinal win over Colchester, their hero was Alec Davis, who batted 7th in the lineup. On Saturday, it was #6 hitter Trevor Trombley who got the Hornets' first hit and scored their first run en route to a 5-0 win over Mount Anthony and their first D1 title since 2022.
Before that, Essex's Sam Bent had to get out of a jam early in the 1st. With 2 runners in scoring position, Bent would strike out the next 2 batters he faced to keep the Patriots off the board. His counterpart, Jacoby Dicarnian, would pitch 1-2-3 innings in the first and second to keep things scoreless.
In the 3rd, after getting 2 more outs, Dicarnian would walk Aiden Iverson for the Hornets' first baserunner. Iverson would steal second and third before scoring on a sac fly from Chris Morgan.
Trombley's hit and a sac fly from Terwilliger made it 3-0 in the fourth and Essex would plate runs in the 5th (Lawrence sac fly) and 6th (Davis sac fly).
Bent ended up going 6 innings, allowing 2 hits while walking 2 and striking out 7. Jacob Laroche would come in to finish the game. Dicarnian would go 4 innings only allowing the 1 hit but allowing 3 runs and walking 3 batters. He did strike out 5 in the contest.
Note: Today's D1 title game marked the final event for Essex activities director Jeff Goodrich with the school. Goodrich will retire, but still be with the VSADA and chair the VPA bass fishing committee...Goodrich's replacement will be Mount Abe AD Devin Wendel, who's final event with the Eagles was the D2 final that took place before the D1 final.
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