The Deerfield Valley News sports blog
6/15/2009 12:58:00 PM
CHESTER- A Twin Valley high school athlete just made the record books two weeks ago. Junior Jared Cipriano became the school's first ever track and field D-III state champion, winning the 800 meters and 1,500 meters. Cipriano won his races by the slimmest of margins (one by a photo finish) and the school will now add his name to the Twin Valley gymnasium rafters.
Congrats to Jared Cipriano for his 800 and 1,500 meters championships!
Jared Cipriano, second from right at the start of the 800 meters.
5/14/2009 1:25:00 PM
For the last week and a half, bad weather cancelled several Twin Valley softball and baseball games. What that meant was they all had to be re-scheduled and they all were back-to-back-to-back. That was certainly the case with the softball team. So with not enough room to fit in all the games, here's a run down of some of the games you didn't get to see in this week's edition. Hope you enjoy!
- Christian
Twin Valley Softball
Leland & Gray 21, Wildcats 5
WILMINGTON- It's tough playing against the top team in D-III girls' softball. The Wildcats kept pace with the Rebels up until the fourth inning. Leading the Wildcats 7-4, the Rebels blew the door wide open scoring four straight runs. The Wildcats committed several errors and lost their poise when pitcher Katelyn Boyd was hit by a Leland & Gray line-drive.
Coach Danny Birch said the team played tough but they were really rattled after Boyd was taken out. "They played good ball for five innings, but they really lost their focus when (Boyd) came out," said Birch.
Leading the Wildcats on offense was Molly Corse with two hits and two RBIs; Stevie Cunningham-Darrah with one RBI; and Shannon Lozito with one hit.
Wildcats 10, MSJ 3
RUTLAND- Molly Corse pitched one of best games of the season fanning nine batters and giving up two hits. On offense Bonnie Boliver has a team-high two hits and Shannon Lozito knocked in two RBIs for the Wildcats.
Katelyn Boyd tags out a Poultney runner on Tuesday.
Wildcats 17, Thetford 0
WILMINGTON- The Wildcats went on an offensive barrage with 14 hits that included three triples. The game was called off after five innings and the Wildcats won in a shutout.
Molly Corse had another stellar outing on the mound. Corse pitched a complete game, struck out four batters and gave up two hits. She was also the standout hitter in the game going three for four with five RBIs. Jess Bolognani had three hits and three RBIs while Ashley Lawless, Shannon Lozito, and Bonnie Boliver each had two hits apiece.
Meghan Bratton makes the tag on another Poultney runner.
Windsor 5, Wildcats 4 (Nine innings)
WINDSOR- The game resembled two heavyweight fighters going fifteen rounds with nothing left in tank and giving it there all. Fact of the matter is, this game could have gone either way. Except the Yellowjackets came out on top in an exciting game, 5-4.
The Wildcats had several chances to take the lead but they also left eight runners stranded on base. "All we needed was one hit here and one hit there, but no luck," said Birch. "We didn't have a lot of errors fielding and they played well overall. I feel like the team may be turning a corner."
Ashley Lawless went two for five; Shannon Lozito went one for four; Meg Jutras went one for four with an RBI; Molly Corse went one for three; Jess Bolognani went two for four with a double; and Liz Degnon went one for four.
Molly Corse struck out nine batters in the losing effort.
Twin Valley boys' baseball
Thetford 12, Wildcats 3
Thetfor 8, Wildcats 4
BRATTLEBORO- The Twin Valley baseball team has a rough outing as the Thetford Panthners swept the doubleheader at BUHS. Thetford's pitching dominated the Wildcats from the first pitch. However Junior Smith was the Cats' lone stand-out in both games going for a combined three for six and three RBIs.
Brian Dix hits one down the third base line.
Tony Bernard hit two RBIs in the first game and pitched two and two-thirds innings, striking out two batters. Other notables were Ryan Bernard with two hits in the series, followed by George Molner, Skyler Duncan, and Ryan Dix, each with a single in the series.
The Wildcats are now 3-7 and face Green Mountain Union High School, Thursday at 4:30 pm.
A Thetford player crosses the plate as Twin Valley's George Molner looks on.
3/20/2009 11:35:00 AM
WILMINGTON- Twin Valley High School held their annual winter sports awards night. Here is a list of this year's winners.
ALL MARBLE VALLEY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM: Scotty Hayford, Eric Froment, Devon Spirka, and Tarryn Bolognani
ALL MARBLE VALLEY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM: Troy Birch
MARBLE VALLEY LEAGUE COACHES OF THE YEAR: Chris Brown & Buddy Hayford (co-coach)
VBCA DREAM DOZEN: Scotty Hayford and Devon Spirka
VBCA SENIOR CLASS PARTICIPANTS: Tarryn and Jessica Bolognani and Eric Froment
Twin Valley snowboarding team:
Coaches Award: Desiree Mack
Most Improved: Holidae Filkins
Coaches Award: Chandler Halbur
Most Improved: Dom Mecalfe
Twin Valley boys' varsity basketball team:
Coaches Award: Eric Froment
Top Defensive: Skyler Duncan
Most Improved: Troy Birch
Top Offensive: Scott Hayford
Team Player: George Molner
Twin Valley cheerleading
Spirit: Amanda Bolduc
Coach's: Libby Brissette
Most Improved: Jee-Hye Kim
Twin Valley girls' basketball team
Team Player: Devon Spirka
Most Improved: Alicia Laughney
Sportsmanship: Jessica Bolognani
Wildcat Award: Tarryn Bolgnani
Sixth Player Award: Bryer-lyn Crawford
The Twin Valley junior varsity sports awards appear in this week's print edition of The Deerfield Valley News or visit our sports section online at www.dvalnews.com/sports.
Congratulations to all award winners!
3/7/2009 2:45:00 PM
BARRE- When you're opponent is a team that's been to the D-III state finals two years in a row, the odds will be stacked against you. But when your opponent looks and plays like a team of destiny then watch out. They'll steamroll right over you. That was the case when the number-three seed Twin Valley Wildcats played number-two seed Lake Region Rangers. The Rangers won in a blowout, 64-36.
The Rangers were slow-going in the opening minutes (1 for 8 from the field) and the Wildcats kept pace. Co-captains Tarryn and Jessica Bolognani and Marissa Edwards chipped in with first quarter scoring and Tarryn had a beautiful buzzer-beating shot to close the first quarter. But the Rangers still led 13-9.
The second quarter was lights out. The Rangers experience, class, and superior playmaking showed. They forced turnovers, they excelled on fast breaks, and they had the size to outrebound at will. The score was 35-19 at halftime and the Wildcats stats were nothing to write home about: 26 turnovers, 27% FGP, and 43% at the charity stripe (9 for 21).
Lake Region's "Three's Company" was everything and then some. Abbey Lalime led in scoring with 21 points; VSSA player of the month Donna Lawson scored 18 points with 12 rebounds; and Kylie Atwood chipped in with nine.
In her final game of her high school career, Tarryn Bolgonani hustled, dug down deep, and went down swinging despite the lopsided score. Bolognani had seven steals on the night along with 14 points and nine rebounds. Co-captain Devon Spirka contributed with 11 points; Jess Bolognani scored seven points with eight rebounds and Edwards scored seven points.
The Wildcats finish the season at 19-4. Coach Buddy Hayford is proud of what the team accomplished in 2008-2009, especially their hard fought win over Oxbow and a semifinal appearance in Barre, one of their top goals of the season. Hope you enjoy the shots, despite the outcome.... AND BEST OF LUCK TO ALL SENIORS! THANK YOU FOR A GREAT SEASON!
Coaches Buddy Hayford and Mark Tinker chat before tipoff.
One last time: Co-captains Devon Spirka and Tarryn Bolognani play some one-on-one.
Sisterhood forever...
Opening tipoff: Wildcats won possession!
Key matchup of the game: Tarryn Bolognani and Abbey Lalime
LR's Kristen Perkins defends TV's "John Stockton" Devon Spirka
Lake Region's Abbey Lalime: the game's MVP
Air Bolognani.
Marissa Edwards' expression says it all.
Tarryn & Jess Bolognani: The end of an era
THANKS TO THE 2008-2009 TWIN VALLEY WILDCATS!
3/1/2009 1:58:00 PM
BRATTLEBORO- It truly is amazing to see what coach Buddy Hayford is doing to motivate the 2009 Twin Valley girls basketball team. Whatever it is, Hayford's getting the Wildcats to dig down deep and play their best basketball of the year... just at the right time. The Wildcats beat Oxbow, 51-48, to move on to the division III semifinal versus number-two seed Lake Region. Now it's on to Barre!
The girls quarterfinal match-up versus Oxbow was, in my opinion, the Wildcats' best effort this season. Oxbow went down fighting to the last minute... and they almost upset the Wildcats. Yet Twin Valley remained poised down the stretch, they didn't panic, and several players made major clutch plays when they had to.
Tarryn was Tarryn. Devon Spirka was doubled-teamed from the get-go but remained unphased. She made great plays... and then some. Sam Bernard wore her heart on her sleeve. She yanked down several rebounds, stripped the ball several times and wasn't afraid to skirmish for any possession she could. Jess Bolognani led in scoring with 12 points. Hayford said Jess played the best high school basketball game of her career. Then there was Marissa Edwards and Bryer-lyn Crawford. With the Wildcats down by one, Edwards drove straight to hoop and put the Wildcats back on top. Edwards' basket put Oxbow's chances to win away for good. Then with seconds to go, Crawford sank two insurance free throws to seal the deal. Oxbow was forced to foul to stop the clock in the waning seconds but it didn't work. The Wildcats advance to the Aud. Oxbow ends the season at 13-8.
Now the Wildcats will seek payback from the Rangers who knocked them out of the 2007 playdowns two years ago. Will they do it? Find out Thursday March 5. Tipoff 6:30 pm. For directions to the Barre Auditorium click here. CONGRATS AND GOOD LUCK WILDCATS!
Sisterhood & solidarity before battle
Bryer-lyn Crawford drives to the hole.
Alicia Laughney grabs down another rebound.
Sam Bernard's sheer determination to score.
Devon shoots in traffic.
Tarryn takes the foul... and the basket.
Marissa Edwards waits patiently for the open player.
Twin Valley coach Buddy Hayford and Oxbow coach Brian Musty after the game.
2/27/2009 4:49:00 PM
BRATTLEBORO- What a game... and a great team effort as the Twin Valley girls basketball team advances to the quarterfinals in the division III playdowns. The Wildcats ran rampant over Peoples Academy, 64-26. Coach Buddy Hayford said the team was chomping at the bit before the game and when he let the Cats loose, they dominated right from the start. The Wolves could only muster nine points in the first half. The Wildcats poured on the offense in the second and left the Wolves zero chance of a remote comeback.
The Wildcats now face sixth seed Oxbow this Saturday at Brattleboro Union High School. Tipoff begins at 2 pm. Winner goes on to the Final Four in Barre. GO WILDCATS!
Sam Bernard goes after the ball aggressively.
Co-captain Jess Bolognani looks for the open player.
Co-captain Devon Spirka goes up for the shot.
Co-captain Tarryn Bolognani wants the loose ball.
Jess Bolognani goes up for a second shot.
Marissa Edwards drives it to the hole.
Future Twin Valley basketball stars... and I don't mean Jared Cipriano or Scotty Hayford!
2/16/2009 11:45:00 AM
The division III boys basketball seedings are set. Twin Valley is number 5 and they will host number 12 Northfield. The winner goes on to play the winner of BFA-Fairfax vs. Green Mountain Union High School. Game details below.
Seed no.5 Twin Valley vs. seed no.12 Northfield
Where: Brattleboro Union High School gymnasium, Brattleboro, VT
When: Wednesday February 18
What time: 5:30 pm NOT 7 PM
For more information call Buddy Hayford at (802) 464-5255.
In other news... the Twin Valley girls' basketball team lost to Burr & Burton in a blowout, 52-20. The Wildcats are bumped down to fourth in division III. Enosburg is now 3rd. To see the latest division III rankings click here.
GO WILDCATS!
6/15/2009 12:58:00 PM
CHESTER- A Twin Valley high school athlete just made the record books two weeks ago. Junior Jared Cipriano became the school's first ever track and field D-III state champion, winning the 800 meters and 1,500 meters. Cipriano won his races by the slimmest of margins (one by a photo finish) and the school will now add his name to the Twin Valley gymnasium rafters.
Congrats to Jared Cipriano for his 800 and 1,500 meters championships!
Jared Cipriano, second from right at the start of the 800 meters.