S. BURLINGTON – Finley Strong, granddaughter of Hazen Union coaching great Jack Strong, powered her Rice Memorial softball team to a pair of wins over Harwood and Mount Anthony last week before falling to Middlebury in extra innings.
The senior slugger blasted a home run, a pair of doubles, and drove in eight runs to lead the Green Knights to a 32-9 home win over Harwood last Monday. Bella Messineo earned the win in the circle.
Strong belted another homer on Tuesday and teammate Alayna Havreluk went 5-5 with a home run as Rice dominated Mount Anthony 19-9. Teammates March Lumbra and Molly McGibney added a long ball apiece in the win.
Strong blasted her third homer of the week and added a triple and three RBIs as Rice fell to Middlebury 16-15 in an extra inning slugfest on Thursday. Meredith Cameron blasted three home runs for the Lady Tigers and McKenna Whitney provided the game-winning sacrifice fly, while earning the win in relief. Despite the loss, Rice remained the No. 2 seed in the current Division II standings with a week to go.
Strong and the Green Knights wrap up the regular season with home match-ups against Milton and Enosburg on Wednesday and Friday.
