Except for one hiccup, CVU baseball continues to add wins

Rain has been a major player in Champlain Valley Union High baseball of late.

After having regularly scheduled games and rescheduled games postponed by precipitation over the last couple of weeks, the sun finally came off the bench on Monday, May 12, for the Redhawks’ home game against visiting South Burlington, which CVU came from behind to ruin a no-hitter and win 5-1.

CVU 4, Mount Manfield 3

The Redhawks entertained Mount Mansfield on Thursday, May 1, in a thrilling contest that was knotted at 3-all for six innings.

In the bottom of the sixth, Riley McDade hit a sacrifice fly that put CVU up for the final score in the 4-3 win.

Quinn Vincent was the winning pitcher. He gave up four hits and three runs while striking out 11.

Ryan Wood led the Redhawks’ effort at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

CVU 15, Essex 14

On Saturday, May 3, CVU entertained the visiting Hornets in a constant rain that, for once, didn’t interrupt the on-field proceedings.

Essex took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, and Champlain Valley didn’t respond until the bottom of the fourth. Zavier Barnes knocked in a run to knot things up 2-2. Then, Will Myers put the Redhawks up 4-2 with two RBIs.

In the top of the fifth, the Hornets came back to make the score 4-3, but CVU plated eight runs in the bottom of the fifth, making it look like the game was going to be a blowout, taking a 12-3 lead.

The top of the sixth inning turned into the kind of affair that gives coaches early-onset baldness with a series of errors and scores off bases-loaded walks that treated the Hornets to what looked like it might be a comeback, but the CVU skid halted with the Redhawks’ lead diminished to 12-10.

A three-run bottom of the sixth, capped by a single by Ryan Wood which scored John Deyo, put the home team up with what seemed a comfortable 15-10 lead.

But comfortable was not on the calendar on this chilly and rainy afternoon. Essex’s final frame turned into a nailbiter for the CVU faithful as Redhawks’ pitching filled the bases and walked home four runs in a row.

With the tying run on third and the bases loaded, Essex hit into a fielder’s choice that finally and mercifully ended the game for a 15-14 Champlain Valley win.

CVU 5, South Burlington 1

The Redhawks and Wolves finally were able to get in a rain-postponed game on Monday, May 12. The contest at home for CVU turned into another edge-of-your-seat competition.

South Burlington’s Henry Doorman pitched five innings of no-hit ball and Nick Kelly knocked in a run to stake South Burlington to a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, CVU finally got on the board, scoring five to go ahead for the final 5-1 margin of victory. This win improved the Redhawks’ record to 4-2-1 and moved the team up to eighth place in the state Division 1 rankings.

Quinn Vincent was the starting pitcher and lasted for five innings, giving up five hits and one run while striking out four and walking four.

Assistant coach Sam Fontaine praised Vincent’s grit on the mound.

“Never, ever give up. That is the storyline from this game. It is never easy facing one of the state’s best pitchers and one of the top teams in Vermont,” Fontaine said. “Vincent battled all game.”

“We needed to back him up, and it took some quality performances from some unsung heroes,” Fontaine said. “Once one hit came, the floodgates opened.”

Mt. Mansfield 3, CVU 1

Champlain Valley had a game the next day, Tuesday, May 13, at Mt. Mansfield. The Cougars took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, when Henry Rogers doubled in two runs and Charlie LaPorte singled in another.

Langdon Hazen pitched seven innings for Mt. Mansfield, striking out 11 and giving up five hits and walking three.

Andrew Nunziata pitched five innings for CVU, giving up four hits and striking out seven, while only giving up three walks.

Vincent was the hits leader for the Redhawks, going 2-for-2 at the plate and knocking in his teams sole run.

Fontaine said CVU’s games against Mt. Mansfield are “always a battle” that his team usually comes out on the winning side of, but not this time.

The Redhawks played a competitive game, Fontaine said. “Full credit to Hazen who threw one of the best games I’ve ever seen him pitch.”

“There’s still many games to be played,” he said.

Also on the Redhawks’ dance card is a 4:30 p.m. game Thursday at BFA-St. Albans. On Saturday, CVU should travel to Essex, if the weather cooperates, for an 11 a.m. rematch. There should also be a makeup of a rained-out Burlington game on Monday, May 19, at home field in Hinesburg.