Mount St. Joseph Academy

CONGRATULATIONS! to Chris Reedy and Leighton Thayer who were selected to play in the North – South All Star Basketball Game this Saturday, March 13, 2010.  It is the first time in three years that members of MSJ’s men’s varsity basketball have been chosen to play in this game. The game will be held at 5pm at Windsor High School in Windsor,VT.

Published: February 19, 2010 in the Times Argus

The phrase “a picture tells a thousand words” came to life on page 1 of the Sports section of the Friday, Feb. 12 Times Argus.

It was not Erin Banfield’s 150th hockey goal that captured my attention, as great of an accomplishment as this is. She has been a great player for years from a family that’s been synonymous with Solon hockey, but it was the reaction of the opposing team, Mount St. Joseph, to that goal that is worthy of note.

For those who missed this edition, the story line goes something like this: Erin Banfield [pictured] scored her 150th high school goal Thursday night against Mount St. Joseph…”the game was stopped, the entire MSJ team came out onto the ice and presented Erin with flowers and congratulated her. It’s so special [Montpelier coach Chris] Turley said. We all know that here, but to have an opposing team acknowledge it like that is just an amazing display of sportsmanship. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it in a hockey game.”

The class act of the MSJ hockey team begs the question, not just in sports, but in the ups and downs of everyday life: What if we were to treat one another, even our “opponents,” with that kind of respect? Might not we have much the same response coach Turley had? To tell you the truth, it might take us all that much closer to the fulfilling of the Great Commandment — God’s design for us as a people!

Erin Banfield wasn’t the only one to set the bar of excellence high Thursday night…our hats are off to the MSJ girls hockey team!

P.S. According to the paper, the MSJ hockey team is winless. Absolutely not!

Thomas Welsh

Barre

MSJ 45, Black River 29

In Ludlow, Brianna Patten had 22 points to power Mount St. Joseph Academy past Black River.

The Presidents were still in the game, trailing 29-16 at the end of three periods, but when they were forced to defend man-to-man, Patten made hay from the foul line where she went 12-of-18.

Alex Reedy followed Patten with eight points.

Hannah Josselyn and Katelynd Palmer had eight each to lead Black River.

By Chuck Clarino Staff Writer – Published: August 5, 2009

On the wall at his office at White Birch Realty, Mark Benetatos keeps a map of Vermont. The map has colored pins stuck at various points where his company has sold country store properties. The map represents the hard work Benetatos has put in and his success as a Realtor. It also reveals some roads that Benetatos will follow in his new job as Mount St. Joseph boys basketball coach.

Benetatos, 52, was chosen from a wide pool of applicants to fill the job vacated by Pat Pockette and his appointment was announced by MSJ Athletic Director Marty McDonough.

“We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Benetatos and I’d have to say that this is the toughest call I’ve ever made,” McDonough said in a recent interview. “In addition to his knowledge of the game, Mark will develop team chemistry and bring a well-disciplined team onto the court.”

Benetatos, a former prep school coach at both Kimball Union Academy and New Hampton School, as well as a highly successful coach at College of St. Joseph, certainly has the credentials for the job.

But why would he choose to go to a small private school that is coming off a season in which the basketball team won its first game and lost the rest?

“I’m excited about the challenge,” said Benetatos. “And that I have always had a lot of respect for MSJ, what they have done and how they do it. Maybe that’s the prep school guy coming out in me but they’ve had a history where they have had a good basketball program. The challenge is to try and build it back.”

As a standout player at Rutland High School, Benetatos knows firsthand about Mounties basketball. During his high school days in the early ’70s, Benetatos played against some strong MSJ teams and loved the competition. But MSJ has changed considerably since those halcyon days. It has a much smaller student body, which means fewer athletes to choose from. MSJ will also drop down a division and play a Division II slate for the first time this winter.

“I’ll have to be patient,” said Benetatos, who claims he’s in for the long haul. “I’m fully aware of the challenge ahead of us.”

Along with a wealth of experience and a strong work ethic, Benetatos brings a knowledgeable and veteran team of coaches to help with the rebuilding program. Former CSJ head coach Jeff White and Jim Madgwick, who has served as both a college and high school assistant, will form the coaching staff that Benetatos has assembled to help him.

“I have a pretty good track record at turning things around but a big part of that job for me has to do with both Jeff White and Jim Madgwick,” he said. “Jeff brings 18, 19 years of coaching experience and a solid basketball mind, and Jim has coached at both CSJ and at West Rutland (with current CSJ coach Phil Bartlett). You need input and the input that Jim and Jeff will give is crucial.”

The team approach is what Benetatos will stress to his squad. He has a desire to build a strong identity as a hard-working team.

“I want hard-working kids; what their talent level is, that’s out of our control,” Benetatos said. “But if they’re hard workers and willing to put an effort into it that extra 10 or 15 percent, they can contribute to turning the program around. Regardless, they are going to see us as a coaching staff, working hard and taking an interest.”

Benetatos has no idea what kind of talent he will have so can’t say for certain what kind of basketball his Mounties will play – whether they will run-and-gun or pound it inside. But he will stress fundamentals and said that the coaching staff will adjust the style to what type of players they are working with.

“I would start on the defensive end; not everybody can shoot the ball or score,” he said. “But if you have a good work ethic, heart and desire, you can play defense. Not knowing the talent, I can’t say what we’ll do. I do have a wish list.”

During his coaching tenure at College of St. Joseph, he built the program to the point where the Saints were selected to participate in the NAIA Division II national tournament in Branson, Mo. So Benetatos understands what needs to be done and realizes that success will not come easily or quickly.

“It will be a process, this is not going to happen in a year,” he said. “What I hope will happen this year is that our team will be competitive and at the end of the game, regardless of the score, people will say, ‘those kids worked hard.’ It will be a question of finding young men who are willing to work within the system and be a part of it. Our hope is that we have a lot of kids interested and have a lot of kids participate, because our style requires that.”

chuck.clarino@rutlandherald.com

By Carleton Laird Staff Writer – Published: July 15, 2009

Dale Patterson likes a challenge. And he just took one on.

The 34-year-old native of Canada brings an extensive hockey background to his job as the new boys hockey coach at Mount St. Joseph Academy, assuming the reins of a team that went without a victory last winter.

All the Mounties athletics programs have suffered from low numbers the past few years and the hockey team is no exception. With around 10 skaters committed to taking the ice, Patterson and the administration must find ways to fill out the roster.

In addition to hoping more students will register at the Academy, they will look to the member-to-member program that allows students at schools that don’t offer a particular sport to play for one that does.

“I just want to get MSJ back to where they were,” Patterson said. “After all, they are just a year removed from a state championship.”

The Mounties won the Division II title in 2008.

“Do I think it’s going to be a challenge? Absolutely,” he said. “But will the kids have a positive experience, work hard and be better hockey players? Absolutely.”

Mount St. Joseph Athletic Director Marty McDonough said that the school is excited to get a coach with Patterson’s long connection to hockey.

“Dale will be able to impart technique and discipline to the returning and younger players.”

Patterson grew up in Gaspe Bay in northern Quebec and, at age 16, moved to Jonquiere, about two hours north of Quebec City, to play Midget AAA.

Two months after his 17th birthday, he came to the University of Vermont as a scholarship player. Over the course of his four years, he played with the likes of NHLers Tim Thomas, Martin St. Louis, Eric Perrin and Aaron Miller. His senior year, the team made it to the Frozen Four in Cincinnati.

Patterson later moved to Vermont and married his college sweetheart, Melissa Welch of Rutland, and started Green Mountain Routers and Lasers in West Rutland. He was Lou Goudreau’s assistant coach at MSJ for the 1999-200 season.

He has since been involved with the Rutland Amateur Hockey Association as a youth coach, working predominately with the youngest players, teaching them skating and hockey fundamentals.

“It will be good to have him back with high school players after coaching the kids,” McDonough said.

Patterson says that rebuilding the MSJ program is a process and he doesn’t know how games his team will win the first season. But he says that that the program will offer considerable one-on-one instruction and ice time for those involved.

“This is an opportunity for players that might not yet be ready to play Division I to get a lot individual attention they might not get elsewhere, to improve and have fun doing it,” he said. “I’ve always been of the belief that if you are to be successful at the next level, you have to be a dominant player at the level you’re at.”

Since accepting the job, Patterson has had offers from some former teammates and roommates.

“Guys with NHL experience have offered to help us out any way they can, whether it be in person or with autographs …”

carleton.laird@rutlandherald.com

October 4, 2008

By Chuck Clarino Herald Staff

COLCHESTER – Defense wins football games; just ask the Mount St. Joseph Mounties.

The Mounties made two huge defensive plays in the fourth period and also prevented the Colchester Lakers from scoring three times inside MSJ’s 10-yard line in the second half to pull out a 13-12 nonleague victory here Friday.

Louis Altobell tackled Lakers QB Jack LeClerc just shy of the goal line on a two-point conversion try with 2:38 remaining in the fourth period to preserve MSJ’s narrow lead.

Then Leighton Thayer intercepted LeClerc’s pass with 1:51 remaining to allow the Mounties to run out the clock.

“When Alex Raymond came out of the game, everyone had to step it up,” said Altobell, a junior defensive end. “Our captains were getting us pumped up so that helped a lot and our coaches were getting us going and when we got a couple of goal line stands, it really got us fired up.”

The Mounties lost Raymond, a captain and two-way starter at defensive end and offensive tackle, to an ejection early in the game for unnecessary roughness, so younger players had to fill in.

Meanwhile, linebacker Matt Messier was carted off the field with his leg in a soft cast, while running back and defensive linebacker Johnny Bizon left in the fourth period to a shoulder injury and saftey/running back Ben Benedict was also banged up, so the Mounties defense was patched together, especially at the end.

“I got thrown in at linebacker but I read that quarterback,” said Thayer, who normally plays safety or corner on defense and quarterback on offense. “They put the balls in the air and coach said before the game that the secondary had to intercept. I still feel like I’m part of the secondary, so I took it.”

The Mounties never trailed.

It was an opportunistic play that set up the first Mounties score after they were forced to punt on their first offensive series. But Ben Sexton’s punt was mishandled and Benedict came up with the fumble recovery.

Three plays later, Benedict toted it into the end zone, slashing in from 14 yards. MSJ tacked on the extra point and the Mounties were in front 7-0 with 6:35 remaining in the first.

Colchester answered with a nine-play, 64-yard drive that featured a huge 15-yard penalty that caused Raymond’s ejection, and a 27-yard pass from LeClerc to tight end Tyler Combs that brought the ball to the 13. Devon Grammon carried it in from there, but a host of defenders blocked the extra point to maintain a 7-6 lead.

Colchester was able to move the ball but the attack broke down several times deep in MSJ territory.

On the Lakers’ second offensive series, they moved the ball to the MSJ 30 but fumbled and Altobell recovered.

MSJ began to jam up the running plays and LeClerc had success in the air, hitting his first five passes for 70 yards, but then the Mounties secondary began to poach the while Altobell and Sexton led a pass rush that pressured LeClerc, and the half ended at 7-6.

The second half featured great field position for the Lakers but again the Mounties had their defense working and time and again it saved the day. Big Hannus Mattila helped stuff up the middle, while Sexton and Brian Ribbens made big plays from the linebacker spots, and Benedict, Bizon, Eric Ladabouche, Nolan Rhodes and Thayer made plays wide and in the secondary.

Colchester took the second-half kickoff and drove in eight plays to the MSJ 11. But the defense stiffened and Colchester’s 27-yard field goal attempt went wide.

Colchester drove to the MSJ 7-yard-line on its next offensive series but in four plays couldn’t punch it in.

MSJ’s offensive finally caught fire on the next series.

Bizon broke a 47-yard run and only the speedy Grammo was able to haul him down. Thayer then found Rhodes in the end zone with a 36-yard scoring strike and the Mounties led 13-6 after the point was blocked. But in a series of big plays, one of the biggest had to be the fourth-down QB sneak by Thayer.

Colchester came right back and in lightning fashion drove deep in MSJ territory. But the Mounties made a stand in the shadow of the goal line and the Lakers turned the ball over on downs.

The Colchester defense stopped the Mounties and embarked on one more drive. A 27-yard pass from LeClerc to Shawn Place set them up at the 1 and Jared Vetters bulled in from there. But Altobell came up big with the saving tackle on the two-point try to preserve the lead.

Colchester burned all its time outs during the next MSJ possession and when the Lakers got the ball back, Thayer was able to contribute his big play to give the Mounties their second win of the season.

“It was a great win for us but obviously we looked very ugly at times,” MSJ coach Chip Forte said. “But when we needed it most, they stepped up to the plate. The kids that came in to replace those guys that got hurt were freshmen and young kids. They stepped up big time and this is a huge win for our program.”

Contact Chuck Clarino at chuck.clarino@rutlandherald.com

September 6, 2008

By Chuck Clarino Herald Staff

BURLINGTON — The win has been so long in coming that Mount St. Joseph almost didn’t know how to celebrate the 21-12 victory over Burlington Friday at Buck Hard Field.

Alex Raymond missed head coach Chip Forte with the customary water-bucket bath. But once the 24-man team drew a tight circle around their coach, the Mounties bounced up and down chanting and whooping in victory.

MSJ had lost 11 straight games and scored just four touchdowns during the entire 2007 season, but this is a dedicated band of Mounties. They may be small in size and short in numbers but they have heart plus a lean and hungry look that translated into the first win in Forte’s tenure as a coach and for many of these players, their first in an MSJ uniform.

Senior wide receiver Nolan Rhodes hauled in touchdown passes of 95 and 55 yards from junior quarterback Leighton Thayer, while junior running back Johnny Bizon bulled over the goal line from 3 yards out to fuel the Mounties’ win.

“We’ve lost 11 game in-a-row but we’ve worked our butts off the past two years,” said Rhodes, a captain. “Nobody gives us a chance, they think MSJ is a bunch of skinny kids with 15 people on the team, but we’re not. We work just as hard as anybody else and we deserve this because we’re as close a team as you can get.”

The Mounties came back from a 7-0 deficit and had to do it with a long field and a third-and-long from their own 5-yard-line. But Thayer found Rhodes running free down the Burlington sidelines with a perfect strike. Rhodes fought off a defender, gathered in the pass and outraced the secondary for the 95-yard scoring strike.

Lauri Vutanen’s PAT gave the Mounties their first lead in two seasons at 7-6.

But the biggest drive of the night was initiated with 6:13 remaining in the second period.

MSJ set up shop on its own 41 and began to march. Relying mostly on Bizon’s hard running behind a fired-up offensive line, MSJ put together a 14-play, 59-yard drive. Bizon beat the clock and blasted over from the 3 with five seconds left in the half.

During that crucial drive, Thayer hit Rhodes with a 10-yard pass on fourth-and-9 to keep the drive alive. On the march, Bizon toted the pigskin 10 times for 41 yards.

Burlington responded by taking the second half kickoff and driving.

With Lloyd Nunn hitting the holes hard and Grady Breen mixing in the pass, the Seahorses moved 61 yards on 11 plays, culminated by a Breen-to-Michael LaBombard 31-yard scoring strike. But the two-point conversion failed and MSJ led 14-12 with 8:34 remaining.

The Mounties offense was hamstrung when both Bizon and his running mate Ben Benedict came up lame with cramps in their legs. MSJ was hard pressed to get anything moving on the ground as Burlington stacked the box with players, trying to force the Mounties to put the ball in the air.

But MSJ stuck to its game plan and tried to grind it out and relyon its defense.

The defensive line, anchored by Ben Sexton and Louis Altobell, were tough, while undersized players like Matt Messier and Brian Ribbans came up big. Alex Raymond celebrated his birthday with a big game, while Finnish exchange students Hannes Mattik and Janne Siltanen also came up big. The secondary, which had players playing out of position, stayed tough with Rhodes, Eric Ladabouche, Thayer, Dylan Stone and Cameron Stiles pitching in.

The Mounties sacked Breen four times and in the second half, casuing the Seahorses to hand the ball over on downs twice, while holding Burlington to four first downs and 85 total yards.

“Our defensive line is the heart of this team and our secondary just needed to step up,” Rhodes said. “We knew that all we had to do was do our deal — we owed it to our defensive line. They played great last week. It was our secondary’s responsibility last week and we made up for it this week.”

Still, with the clock winding down, it was still anybody’s game.

MSJ got the ball with 3:59 remaining and good field position on its own 40.

On third-and-9, Thayer found Rhodes running down the Mounties sideline and threw it up where the tall, lean Rhodes could grab it and wrestle it away from the defensive back. He made the snatch and ran free for a 55-yard TD pass that sealed the win.

“Leighton Thayer is a young quarterback who’s got the talent and he finally just let it go, trusted in himself that he had what it takes to be a great quarterback,” Rhodes said. “It all starts with him and the offensive line being great pass blockers; all I had to do was catch the ball.”

The Mounties were able to rack up 235 yards, with 160 coming through the air. Burlington had 128 yards, split 63 overland and 65 in the air.

Burlington (0-2) scored its first touchdown on a 3-yard run by Andrew Cane after a short punt gave the Seahorses great field position. But Cane left the game with an injury in the first half and never returned, which hurt the Burlington cause.

MSJ (1-1) will now come home to host South Burlington and try for another celebration.

“This is the greatest feeling in the world,” said Forte, leaving the field with his first win. “It was a total effort, they all stepped up. This is something we can build on. I’m very proud of their effort to come back from adversity like that away from home.”

Contact Chuck Clarino at chuck.clarino@rutlandherald.com

Help support MSJ athletic programs and buy a ticket for the CASH RAFFLE!

$60.00 donation – 1 ticket admits two

1st:   6,000.00

2nd:   3,000.00

3rd:   1,000.00

20 prizes: 100.00 each

The drawing will be held at the American Legion Post 31, 33 Washington St. Rutland on Saturday, August 16 at 7:00 p.m. The winner does not have to be present, but there will be door prizes and refreshments for all who come.

Make checks payable to MSJ Athletic Association.

NO ONE UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE ADMITTED.

For more information call Dick Densmore at (802) 775-8087 or John Kelly at (802) 773-6375

Cost of ticket will be refunded if insufficient number are sold. Winners are required to pay all Federal, State and Local taxes.

By Tom Haley Herald Staff

May 24, 2008

MANCHESTER — Ordinarily, there wouldn’t be a memorable moment in a lopsided baseball game where the losing team makes six pitching changes and those pitchers surrender 14 walks.

But one Mount St. Joseph Academy player had a moment he will remember for a lifetime in his team’s 19-3 victory over Burr and Burton Academy on Friday, a game that was abbreviated to six innings by the mercy rule.

Shane Lee, an exchange student from Korea, had never played organized baseball until arriving in the United States this year. But he drilled a serve from pitcher Jayme Ayotte up the middle for a clean hit when inserted into the game in the fifth inning.

Following the game, Lee’s teammates put him on their shoulders and carried him off the field.

Burr and Burton coach Adam Provost presented Lee with the game ball.

“I wanted to play baseball because my cousin plays (professionally) in Korea,” Lee said after the game. “I was so happy.”

“He had never played baseball before and he has worked so hard. We’re so proud of him,” MSJ coach Glenn Carter said. “He will never forget this and we’re glad we could be a part of it.

“He hit the ball hard and he really loves being a part of something.”

When Lee thanked Provost for the ball, the BBA coach replied, “That was cool. I am so happy for you.”

MSJ left-hander Will Hadeka had a 4-0 lead before he had to throw a pitch. The Mounties scored the four first-inning runs with just two hits as left-hander Alex Miskovsky, who usually has good control, walked three in the inning. Colin McCormick, Ryan Gilbert, Bill Shouldice and Hadeka scored in the frame. Glenn Carter struck the big blow, a two-run double.

“That allows you to have a whole different approach,” Hadeka said of the early four-run cushion. “It was a tight strike zone, but I just tried to get the ball across the plate.”

Hadeka worked four innings to get the win. Ryan Gilbert pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

The Mounties put this one away by scoring seven more in the second to build the lead to 11-0. Miskovsky never could gain his control and left with seven walks in just 1.1 innings.

A parade of pitchers followed him to the mound as Provost was cognizant of pitch counts with a game today against Mount Anthony. Joseph Hoffman, Dan Favreau, Justin Dillmon, Ayotte and Ethan Hom all pitched for the 4-8 Bulldogs, with Hom making two separate appearances.

Leading MSJ’s 11-hit attack was Shouldice (two hits with a double) and Carter (a double and three runs scored). John Bizon came off the bench to contribute an RBI double, Nolan Rhodes had a two-run single, Eric Ladabouche had a single, double and three RBI, and Ben Sexton had two hits and four RBI off the bench as coach Carter got to use all his players.

“We beat them 5-2 on Monday. This was a fluke,” coach Carter said.

T.J. Oliver led the Bulldogs’ six-hit attack with two singles. Favreau had a single and scored a run.

The Mounties hike their record to 9-5, but coach Carter believes the odds are against his team for securing a home game in the Division I playoffs. They have a game Tuesday at Otter Valley.

The Bulldogs play in the A Division of the Marble Valley League, but will be in the Division II state tournament.

Shouldice made the defensive play of the game at first base, going high to corral a tough hop and take a hit away from Miskovsky in the second inning.

Lee was going home to call his cousin in Korea. His cousin is a professional baseball player, but this day belonged to Shane Lee.

Contact Tom Haley at tom.haley@rutlandherald.com.

May 15, 2008
By Tom Haley Herald Staff

Division IV Black River and Division I Mount St. Joseph Academy, teams with lofty records, went after one another at St. Peter’s Field with pride on the line but the eyes on bigger prizes. Both MSJ coach Glenn Carter and Presidents coach Jim O’Neil were conscious of saving pitchers for upcoming games in their own division.

Still, there was no holding back and some of the defense was sensational in MSJ’s 5-1 victory. It was a good thing that Rutland Herald photographer Albert J. Marro and Jerry Munger of PEG-TV were at the park. It would have been a shame if some of the web gems had not been captured.

Black River right fielder Johnny Durgin went sprawling to rob Ryan Gilbert of a base hit in the second inning. The diving grab of the sinking ball while going toward the line was spectacular.

Gilbert, who had a double in the first inning, hit the ball hard all day but was robbed again in the fifth on a great play by Black River third baseman Kyle Ehlers; Ehlers cut off a grounder in the hole and threw him out at first.

Durgin was at it again in the sixth inning after moving to first base. He went diving to snag a foul ball off the bat of Bill Shouldice just before crashing into the fencing in front of the dugout.

“Johnny Durgin played a great game today and he is one of those kids you can put anywhere,” O’Neil said.

MSJ center fielder Willy Hadeka gave Durgin a taste of his own medicine when made a catch that would make any highlight reel, charging hard to the left-center gap and diving to take a hit away.

The other defensive highlight was authored by MSJ third baseman Nolan Rhodes. He gloved a hot smash off the bat of Durgin in the fifth, throwing to first to turn a ball ticketed for left field into an out.

The Mounties got all the runs they would need by scoring three times in the first. Gilbert’s double started it all. Hadeka also had an RBI single in the inning and two walks and an error kept things going. When it was over Gilbert, Ryan Carter and Hadeka had crossed the plate.

They did the damage with Jacob Covell on the mound.

Brad Cross came on to pitch for the Presidents when the second inning began, but the Mounties added two more in that frame. They did it without a hit as an error and three walks kept the inning going. Colin McCormick was hit by a pitch and scored on an error, and Eric Ladabouche walked and also scored on an error.

MSJ starter Mike Cirelli pitched three innings of shutout ball before giving way to Gilbert, making his first varsity mound appearance.

Cirelli struck out four, did not issue a walk and hit a batter.

Gilbert was impressive. His work indicated he gives coach Carter another pitcher who can at least eat up innings. Gilbert struck out four and allowed just one hit, a double to Ian Rebhan, in his four innings. The run he yielded in the fourth was unearned. Anthony Simms reached on a error and scored on Rebhan’s double.

The Presidents had only two hits, the other a bloop single by Chris Kowalski.

Kowalski pitched the last 1.2 innings.

“There wasn’t much offense today,” coach Carter said. “But there was some good defense played today.”

Indeed, his Mounties had only three hits with Gilbert, Hadeka and Ladabouche getting them.

The Mounties raised their record to 8-3 and have their city rivalry game with Rutland on Friday.

It was only the second loss in 10 games for Black River.

Black River hosts West Rutland on Friday.

Ryan Carter will pitch against Rutland and David O’Neil gets the ball for Black River against Westside.

“I don’t care what division Black River is in, with a guy like Jimmy coaching them, they can be competitive against anybody,” coach Carter said.

Coach Carter felt he knew why his Mounties did not tattoo the ball against the slow serves from three Black River pitchers.

“I’m not telling any secrets. Anyone who has seen us knows that we struggle with the off-speed stuff. It showed today,” he said.

He knows Friday’s game will be a test. The Raiders won the first meeting 4-1.

“Rutland’s playing some good baseball right now,” Carter said.

It’s no mystery to coach O’Neil why his team got down 5-0 in the first two innings.

“Our kids came out nervous,” the Black River coach said.

It was understandable. They were not only measuring themselves against a good Division I opponent, but this was also the first game of the season where neither O’Neil or Rebhan pitched.

Now, West Rutland comes to town and the Presidents get back to business against teams in their own division.

Coach O’Neil expects a challenge from Mickey Caliguiri’s West Rutland outfit.

“Mickey will have them ready to play. He always does,” O’Neil said.

Another club he expects to challenge his team in the Marble Valley League is Arlington.

Going outside the MVL, he sees the biggest obstacle to be the Blue Mountain Bucks.

“I think they might be the team to beat,” Coach O’Neil said.