DANVILLE – The Caledonia United (Twinfield-Cabot-Danville) softball team capped off its regular season with a pair of wins over Paine Mountain and Craftsbury Academy (CA) last week, improving to 4-8.
photo by Vanessa Fournier
Alaina Robbins twirled a one-hit gem last Tuesday, striking out 12 to power Cal United to a season series sweep of CA with a 14-2 win at home. Robbins helped her own cause at the plate with a 2-3 performance and a pair of RBIs.
photo by Vanessa Fournier
Senior Phoebe Crocker crushed a triple, and Lily Monaca belted a double in the win. Crocker, Aaliyah Keyes, Alyssa Keyes, Jade Brickey, Olive Estrin, Tasa Howe, Michaela Wetherell and Hannah Litz were all honored before the game on Senior Night, recognizing their outstanding high school careers. Ginger Bowley struck out nine for the Lady Chargers in taking the loss in the circle. Ellie Abbot recorded the only hit for CA.
The Cal United offense continued to hum on Wednesday, coming back from a nine-run deficit to shock Paine Mountain 16-15 at Paul Remick Field. Crocker blasted a grand slam to lead the improbable comeback as the home team found themselves in an 11-2 hole after three innings of play.
photo by Vanessa Fournier
Alaina Robbins punished Paine Mountain with four hits, including a double, as Cal United cut into the deficit with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. After four more runs in the fifth, Peyton Winn (2-2, triple) and Amelia Tibbitts (3-4, 3 RBIs) led the charge in a six-run sixth inning to tie the game at 15-15. Crocker scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh to complete the comeback.
Winn and Robbins shared time in the circle for Cal United, combining for 11 strikeouts. Arie Monroe led Paine Mountain with a double and five RBIs. Lindsey Cross scored three runs and drove in three more in the loss. Sierra Pecor, Melody Davison and Monroe combined to strike out 12 in the circle.
“I am incredibly proud of my team,” said head coach Jennie Moore. “Down 11-2, we steadily added runs. Phoebe is currently catching for us, and Amyra Simmons is filling in at shortstop. It was very exciting to see players succeed in positions they aren’t typically placed in. My team stayed together, never gave up and battled until the end. It was a very exciting win!”
photo by Vanessa Fournier
Moore’s ball club earned the No. 10 seed in the upcoming Division IV state tournament and drew a tough side of the bracket in seventh-seeded Richford. Cal United will travel to the 2024 Division IV champs on Wednesday. If they pull off the upset, they will travel to second-seeded Blue Mountain for a quarterfinal match-up over the weekend.
Craftsbury was scheduled to travel to No. 6 Windsor on Tuesday.
