BURLINGTON – The Lyndon Institute baseball team’s bid to end a nearly two-decade title drought came up just short over the weekend against top-seeded Mount Abraham.
Mount Abe rallied from a two-run deficit to down the Vikings 5-3 and claim the Division II State Championship at Centennial Field on Sunday. The Eagles (15-1-1) pushed across five runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good. Lyndon cut the lead to 5-3 in the seventh inning behind an RBI single from Ray Powers and brought the tying run to the plate before the rally was extinguished with a strikeout from Abe Ready. Powers took the loss, allowing just two earned runs in a complete game effort. Evan Corrigan struck out five to earn the win. It was the first title in ten years for Mount Abe, who ended the season on a 13-game winning streak. It was the first state title under head coach Jason Barnard, who was a former baseball standout for VTSU-Lyndon. Barnard’s program rebounded from a heartbreaking loss in the title game two years ago, when the Eagles appeared to win the state title on a game-ending bases-loaded walk. After a discussion among officials, the run was negated when it was deemed that the runner failed to touch first base before celebrating with his teammates. Mount Abe went on to lose to Middlebury in extra innings. Former Hazen Union teacher/coach and Vermont Principals’ Association Hall of Famer Marvin Pritchard was the umpire behind the plate for that game.
Lyndon’s season ended at 13-3 with their second runner-up finish in four years. The Vikings will lose seven seniors to graduation, including Danville multi-sport standout Sebastian Eldred.
