Hardwick Loses Pitching Duel to St. Johnsbury

Hardwick Loses Pitching Duel to St. Johnsbury

ST. JOHNSBURY – St. Johnsbury’s Rex Hauser and Hardwick’s Lyle Rooney went toe to toe last week in an old-fashioned pitcher’s duel, with a sacrifice fly being the only difference for St. Jay in Senior Babe Ruth action last week.

Hauser twirled a one-hitter, striking out 11, and driving in the only run of the game as St. Johnsbury edged Hardwick at home last Tuesday 1-0. Rooney was equally as impressive, as the former Hazen Union Wildcat struck out 12 and allowed just a bloop single in the loss. Logan Burgess earned the only hit for the home team and Andrew Menard had a hit and a stolen base in the loss for Hardwick.

“Lyle was great throwing the ball and fielding his position several times throughout the game. Hauser was throwing well and we made some good contact on him, but it was right at people. This team has too much talent not to get it going offensively. It is still early on in our schedule and this team is filled with too many competitors for them not to find their rhythm at the plate sooner than later,” said head coach Ivan Menard.

Hardwick will host Newport on Thursday at Hudson Fields and stay at home for a matchup against Northfield the following Tuesday.

Strong Makes Vermont Make-A-Wish All-Star Roster

SOUTH BURLINGTON – Jackson Strong put a bow on his stellar high school hockey career over the weekend with a selection to the Vermont Make-A-Wish All-Star roster.

Strong is the son of former Hazen Union baseball standout Jeff Strong, who also played four years at Lyndon State College. He is the grandson of Wildcat coaching great Jack Strong, who guided Hazen to their only baseball state championship in 1982. The Rice Memorial standout defenseman was named Division I Player of the Year by the coaches after leading the Green Knights to the top seed in Division I, claiming Vermont Mr. Hockey honors by the Burlington Free Press earlier this spring.

The all-star showcase features the top graduated high school seniors from Vermont and New Hampshire on the ice at Gutterson Field House. The Vermont and New Hampshire rosters squared off for the 31st time over the holiday weekend. All proceeds from the star-studded event go to fulfill special wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Davis to Return to the Sidelines

COLCHESTER – Former Craftsbury Academy legend Jeff Davis will return to the sidelines to lead the Colchester varsity girls’ basketball program this coming winter after a three-year hiatus from head coaching.

Davis was a 1,000-point career scorer for the Chargers in the early ’90s, leading the program to its last state championship and four straight appearances in the Division IV title game. He went on to play for Norwich University. He was the head coach for a Mount Mansfield Union varsity boys’ program that won three state championships, racking up nearly 300 career wins over 20 years at the helm. He takes over a Colchester program that hasn’t had a winning season in six years, but will get an infusion from an incoming freshman class, led by his daughter Anya.