BY HUCK FINN, our pseudonymous sports reporter
BRANDON—Otter Valley varsity softball dusts off the cobwebs for their first scrimmage of the season against Proctor High School. The familiar sound of high energy softball cheers ring from the dugout.
In typical VT April spring weather fashion, raindrops came and went several times during the scrimmage. Starting in the circle pitching was Mackenzie McKay and behind the plate, reliable Grace O’Connell. The Proctor batters go down in order with a long fly ball caught in center field by Ryleigh Laporte, followed by 2 strikeouts.
Leading off for the Otters with a single was #4 McKay who stole 2nd base on a passed ball. Ryleigh Laporte walked and then promptly stole second on a passed ball at the plate. The number 3 batter, #6 Sydney Gallo, hit a stand-up double to center field, scoring McKay and LaPorte. #5 Lancour hit into an easy 5-3 play for the Proctor defense. #24 Bryn Blanchard hit to 3rd, forcing the second out of the inning but making it to first and rounding to second on a passed ball. #20 Alivia Sheldrick hit a single through the infield, taking first, but Proctor’s defense caught Bryn Blanchard at 3rd for the 2nd out of the inning. #23 Lauren Palmer struck out with the 3rd out of the inning, bringing the score to OV 3: Proctor 0.
Second inning Proctor strikes out in order 1, 2, 3. #13 Grace O’Connell steps out to the plate with her signature bat twirl taking a walk to first. #8 Sierra Cormany drops a single over the 2nd base for the first out of the inning. #3 Laporte drove an RBI single to center and showed her speed stealing second. #6 Gallo’s hard drive caught by Proctor’s 3rd baseman. #5 Lancour takes a walk followed by an RBI single by #24 Blanchard. #20 Sheldrick takes first with a walk followed by #23 Palmer’s single to left center. #13 O’Connell drives a hard grounder played well by the Proctor 2nd baseman for the 3rd out of the inning.
Third inning starts with another strikeout for OV’s pitcher, McKay. Proctor’s #22 hits a bloop infield fly to land her on first. OV’s McKay strikes out the second batter. Proctor’s #3 hits up the middle to score first base followed by Proctor’s #14 walk. OV’s #6 Gallo makes a nice catch to end the threat.
OV’s bottom half of the inning starts with #8 Cormany walking her way to first followed up by #4 McKay’s bunt single and #3 Laporte’s single to advance all runners. #6 Gallo wears a pitch forcing in a run. #5 Lancour watches a wild pitch allow a run in before taking the walk for first. #24 Blanchard takes a walk and then goes to 2nd on a passed ball to #20 Sheldrick who gets her perfect pitch and drives it to right center for a bases-clearing double. #23 Palmer hits into a 1-2 play by the Proctor defense. #13 O’Connell singles up the middle bringing to the plate #8 Cormany, who hits into a custom 1-2 out.
Top of the 4th, Proctor’s Randy takes the walk to first and immediately steals 2nd base. OV’s McKay strikes out the next three batters leaving Proctor’s lone base runner on 2nd.
OV starts the bottom of the fourth with a walk by #8 Cormany who steals 2nd. #4 McKay uses a good eye to take the walk to first. #12 Newton comes in to pinch run for #4 McKay and makes the best of her wheels by stealing 2nd. #3 LaPorte drives a 2 RBI double to clear the bases. Proctor changes pitchers and #6 Gallo is the first to face off. She matches up and takes the walk to first. #5 Lancour takes a walk and quickly steals second as the rain begins to fall again. #24 Blanchard comes to the plate and watches #6 Gallo score on a passed ball. #24 Blanchard takes the walk as proctor’s pitcher struggles to find the zone. #20 Sheldrick pops up for Proctor’s catcher to make a fine defensive play. #23 Palmer walks after one long, long foul down the left field line. Proctor’s coach comes to the circle to talk with his pitcher. #13 O’Connell dumps what should have been an out behind second base into a double. #8 Cormany pops up brining #4 McKay to the plate who follows a foul down the right field line with a walk to first. #3 Laporte hits to the first baseman who throws home for the 3rd out of the inning.
Top of the 5th and #4 McKay strikes out Proctor’s 1st batter, number two batter takes first on a passed ball and McKay finishes it out by striking out the third batter. Otter Valley changed pitchers to #8 Sierra Cormany who strikes out her first and only batter of the inning.
Bottom of the fifth with a new pitcher for Proctor, #14 pitches to OV #6 Gallo who hits a high fly to left center and a missed catch allows her first base and 2nd on a passed ball at the plate. #5 Lancour takes a walk and #6 Gallo steals third. #24 Blanchard 2 RBI double to left center starting off a 9-run inning. #9 Hayes takes a walk and Proctor changes pitchers again. #22 Thibault flies out bringing #13 O’Connell to the plate who walked forcing in another run. #8 Cormany takes the walk to first bringing in #4 McKay to the plate who also walks forcing in another run. #3 Laporte hits an RBI single to right center. #6 Gallo to the plate who finds her perfect pitch and hits a long base-clearing bomb of a home run. #11 Thomas hits a double on a missed pop fly to shallow center bringing up #24 Blanchard to the plate who uses a good eye to take the walk to first base. #9 Hayes strikes out to end the inning.
Top of the 6th, #8 Cormany pitching strikes out her first two batters followed by a hit right to first base for an easy out.
Bottom of the 6th and #22 Thibault hits a long single to center followed by another long single to center by #7 Seigle. #8 Cormany hits an infield single to load the bases for #15 Hobbs who drops an RBI single to left. #3 Laporte takes 4 balls and the walk forcing in a run. #27 Desabrais connects with a laser line drive to center for an RBI. #11 Thomas comes to the plate and laces a base-clearing home run to right center. #12 Newton singles to right.
Top of the 7th and Proctor’s #4 hits an infield single. Next batter strikes out followed up by batter #3 who hits into 1-3 play at first. Proctor singles again. Proctor’s last batter flies out to #9 Hayes to end the game.
If this scrimmage indicates anything for the upcoming season things are looking bright for the Otter Valley Softball team and their fans.
-our apologies to Proctor as we did not have their roster for names and numbers- best of luck in your season Proctor
