Sports Report – August 8, 2019

S.D Ireland falls just short of American Legion Baseball finals
Going into the final double header against Brattleboro, S.D. Ireland needed only to win one to advance to the Northeast Regional Tournament. They did not manage it, falling 9-6 in the opener and 5-2 in the second game. They had reached the final by winning two Monday games, one a 6-1 defeat of the eventual champion Brattleboro. Their early wins hindered their final two games because they lost the strong arms of pitchers Ian Parent and Storm Rushford who had reached their pitch-count allowances and could not throw in the final two games.

Since many of the Ireland players were on the CVU state high school championship team, the close losses to Brattleboro Post 5 demonstrated just how competitive this age level can be.

The all-tournament team included the following Ireland players: Collin Vincent at shortstop, Jacob Boliba in the outfield, and utility players Ian Parent and Aidan Johnson.

Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl goes to New Hampshire
The 66th annual Shrine twin-state football game went to the gang on the eastern side of the Connecticut River by a 21-9 score. New Hampshire’s rushers, led by Cameron Mann’s 137 yards on 16 carries, led the way. All told, the Granite staters ran for 249 yards to Vermont’s 180. Even though New Hampshire had a close 7-3 lead at halftime, they pulled away in the second session to reach the final 21-9 with five and one-half minutes to play in the game. Vermont actually moved the ball well late in the second half, going 65 yards in only four plays on one drive. Jake Baker (Burr and Burton) scored the single Vermont touchdown on a pass and run from the New Hampshire 40-yard line. Kicker Noah Crossman from Rutland hit a 25-yard field goal in the first half for the only other Vermont points.