LYNDON CENTER – Rice Memorial’s quest to reach the Division II state title game came up short for a second consecutive season as top seeded Lyndon Institute rallied at home last week to end the Green Knight’s season.
Down 2-0, the Lady Vikes pushed across three runs in the top of the fourth and leaned on their pitching and defense the rest of the way to escape with a 3-2 win last Thursday. Ashleigh Simpson belted a double and triple. Emmy Smith drove in the game-winner to advance to the title game for a second straight year. Sophomore Jenna Royer earned the complete game win in the circle. Ella Marshia and Kendall Hale combined to make spectacular defensive double play in the top of the seventh inning to end the game.
Finley Strong, granddaughter of former Hazen Union coaching great Jack Strong, and her Green Knight teammate’s dream of playing for a Division II championship ended at 15-3 on the season.
Lyndon lost a 6-5 ten-inning heart breaker to second seeded Mount Abraham over the weekend at Castleton, as the Lady Eagles captured their second state title in three years.
