Recreation & Sports

The Brattleboro Outing Club (BOC) Tennis is offering a free Labor Day Mixer and Barbecue that will be fun for the whole family. Instructors will arrange doubles for anyone of any age and skill level who wants to play This event is a fun activity for anyone with an interest in tennis. This is also a great way to find out more about the BOC Tennis community. The event will be held on September 2 at the BOC Tennis Community at 202 Cedar Street from 10am to 2pm.

The grill will be offering free hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, and soft drinks.

The joy of winning the Connecticut River Valley Baseball League championship for the second straight year turned to shock and sadness for the Claremont Cardinals and the rest of the league as Cardinal catcher Jon Ferrero was fatally injured and outfielder Justin Pierce was seriously injured in a pickup truck crash in the players’ hometown of Woodstock, Vt. The accident occurred just hours after the Cardinals defeated the Walpole Wild Blue to win the CRVBL Cup.

“The Connecticut River Valley Baseball League is so saddened by this accident up in Woodstock, ” said Gary Dennis, league coordinator for the CRVBL and manager of the Walpole Wild Blue. “The Cardinals are a bunch of great guys and good ball players. It was our honor to play against them on Sunday…our hearts go out to Jon and Justin’s friends and families and the rest of the Claremont ball club.”

The Connecticut River Valley Baseball League will crown its 2013 champion this weekend as the four town teams that won first round playoff series will face off at the Walpole baseball complex. The semi-final 9-inning games start on Saturday at 1:00 as the regular season leader Chester/Saxtons Crush play the defending champion Claremont Cardinals, while the league’s newest team, the Sunapee Old Lakers, take on the Walpole Wild Blue. The winners of the 9-inning semifinals will meet Sunday at 1:00 for the CRVBL Cup.

The Connecticut River Valley Baseball League begins its 2013 postseason Friday night at 6:30 when the Walpole Wild Blue take on the Keene Black Dawgs at the Walpole baseball complex in the first game of a best of three quarterfinal series. Three other series will also be held throughout the weekend. Two of those series begin on Saturday, when the Putney Fossils host the defending champion Claremont Cardinals in a 1:00 p.m. game at Dummerston Field; and the Sunapee Old Lakers take the Newport Polar Bears at 4:30 in Sunapee.

Brattleboro, Vt. — The Harris Hill Ski Jump committee, which manages the annual Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition in Brattleboro, was awarded Jumping/Nordic Combined Club of the Year at the 2013 U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association (USSA) Congress. The annual USSA Congress awards not only clubs but coaches, athletes and resorts who display exemplary service to the sports of skiing and snowboarding.

Peter Graves, former Putney resident, Harris Hill committee member and snowsports announcer, and currently Communications Director for USA Ski Jumping, accepted the award on behalf of the organization at the Congress which was held in Park City, Utah in late May.

The Connecticut River Valley Baseball League wraps up the 2013 regular season this weekend with all eight adult town teams in action with playoff seedings and matchups at stake. The action begins on Friday evening at 6:30 in Claremont as the defending league champion Cardinals host the Walpole Wild Blue. The two teams are currently tied for second place with records of 8 wins and four losses. Sunday morning at 10, the Putney Fossils and Brattleboro River Rats meet at Dummerston Field, and a win for Putney could move them ahead of the Newport Polar Bears in the playoff seeding. The regular season wraps up with a pair of games at 11 a.m. Sunday as Claremont hosts the Sunapee Old Lakers at Barnes Park while the Keene Black Dawgs take on Walpole at Keene State College.

PUTNEY, CLAREMONT AND WALPOLE LATEST CRVBL WINNERS

By Kevin McElhinney, CRVBL

With the Connecticut River Valley Baseball League playoffs less than three weeks away, the Putney Fossils, the Claremont Cardinals and the Walpole Wild Blue all scored important regular season victories
in recent action.

At Dummerston Field, Putney benefitted from eight strong innings by starting pitcher Dave Guadalupe, as the Fossils beat the Sunapee Old Lakers, 8 to 4. Guadalupe gave up just one earned run on five hits before giving way to Richard Bissell who earned the save. Offensively, catcher Steve Stanley knocked in four runs on three hits, Brandon Reilly tripled, scored three runs and stole two bases while shortstop Nick Garcia went two for four, stole two bases and drove in a run.

Trail closure under I-91 bridge, July 29-Aug. 2 and August 5-6

Attention West River Trail users: The area under the I-91 bridge will be temporarily closed from Monday, July 29 to Friday, August 2 due to utility conduit work. From immediately north of the bridge, the trail will be open. To access the trail north of the bridge, use the access from Rice Farm Road (go up Route 30, cross the Iron Bridge, take a right, past the Nature Conservancy trailhead, and look for the chain across the northern end of the West River Trail, on the right.)

CHESTER/SAXTONS , WALPOLE, CLAREMONT AND BRATTLEBORO TAKE LATEST CRVBL GAMES

With all teams in the Connecticut River Valley Baseball League in action over the last few days, the Chester/Saxtons Crush, the Walpole Wild Blue, the Claremont Cardinals and the Brattleboro River Rats emerged victorious.

The first place Chester/Saxtons Crrush lived up to its name with an 11 to 3 win over the Putney Fossils. Andrew Robbins of the Crush hit a solo home run and pitchers Scott Renfro and Nick Wirkkala combined to allow Putney seven hits. Defending league champion Claremont relied on the pitching of Andrew Sullivan and the hitting of second baseman John Grainger in its 9 to 2 victory over the Newport Polar Bears.

BRATTLEBORO PICKS UP FIRST WIN OF YEAR OVER NEWPORT

By Kevin McElhinney, CRVBL

The Brattleboro River Rats moved into the win column for the first time this season with a 7-2 victory over the Newport Polar Bears in recent Connecticut River Valley Baseball League action.

River Rats pitcher Todd Bell threw a complete game for the win, allowing just one earned run on six hits while striking out eight. At the plate, Bell drove in two runs. Other stars on offense included shortstop Michael Chevalier and third baseman Brian Benjamin, who each had three hits. Left fielder Caleb Record went two for four with an RBI, first baseman John Waitekus and right fielder Thomas Mauger each drove in a run while catcher Sunny Lucas scored two runs and second baseman Abe Klein scored twice and stole a base.

I’m posting on behalf of James, a 13-year-old I tutor part time.  He really loves playing Magic the Gathering and is really good at it.  He’s looking for more kids to play Magic with, roughly ages 11 to 15, and/or a local Magic group to join.  (That is, in Brattleboro – we know about the Greenfield one).

Please message me, or tell me how to get in touch with you, if you know of any Magic groups or 11-15 year old Magic enthuiasts who would be interesting in meeting me and James downtown somewhere (gazebo on the common?  Tea Lounge?) to play Magic.  (I don’t play, btw. :)) 

And spread the word!

Thanks!!!

CLAREMONT BEATS BRATTLEBORO IN CRVBL ACTION

By Kevin McElhinney, CRVBL

The defending Connecticut River Valley Baseball League champion Claremont Cardinals held off a surprisingly strong effort by the winless Brattleboro River Rats and came out with a 6 to 3 victory in recent CRVBL action.

The game at Claremont’s Barnes Park featured strong pitching by Claremont’s Mike Wells and Brattleboro’s Todd Bell, both of whom pitched complete games. Cardinal third baseman Justin Pierce singled, doubled, scored a run and drove in two more, while John Waitekus of the River Rats went three for three with a pair of RBI.

Congratulations to Brattleboro’s own Division 1 State Champions softball team. I was just reading the Brattleboro Reformer’s sports section. I am quite proud to learn the Colonel’s Softball team are now Vermont’s division one softball champions.

Also answered the fleeting question I had on Friday; “What was all the sirens about?”. Again, congratulations to the team and all the supporters of the team.

Three cheers.

WESTMINSTER, VT— Kurn Hattin Homes invites golfers of all skill levels to enjoy a fun day of golf, great food,
contests and prizes while helping to improve the lives of children in need. The 22nd Annual Kurn Hattin Golf
Classic will be held Wednesday, July 17th at the Keene Country Club. The event benefits children at Kurn
Hattin Homes in Westminster, Vermont, a year-round home and school for boys and girls in need of temporary care as a result of family tragedy, or social or economic hardship.

PUTNEY, SUNAPEE AND WALPOLE WIN LATEST CRVBL GAMES

By Kevin McElhinney, CRVBL

The Putney Fossils, Sunapee Old Lakers and the Walpole Wild Blue all collected wins as the 2013 Connecticut River Valley Baseball League season moved into its second half. All eight CRVBL teams will be in action over the next week.

Putney handed the defending CRVBL champion Clearment Cardinals its second defeat of the season by a 7-2 score at Dummerston field. The Fossils took control of the game with a four run second inning. Richard Bissell picked up the complete game victory, while Steve Kapril had 3 hits and knocked in five runs. Right fielder Josh Coursen of Putney preserved the lead with a spectacular diving catch with a runner in scoring position.

The 4th Annual Go Skateboarding Day is this Friday from 2-5 at the Crowell Lot Skate Park Site. We will have ramps, tons of refreshments, barbecue, contests and prizes as well as music. Should be a great afternoon. Bring your skateboard and tell everyone you can to come support the Brattleboro Skate Park efforts. 

As always, donations are welcome. 

Take care,
Spencer.

HITTERS TAKE OVER IN CRVBL WEEKEND ACTION

By Kevin McElhinney–CRVBL

Fans attending any of the past weekend’s games in the Connecticut River Valley Baseball League were treated to displays of heavy hitting, as each of the four contests featured impressive displays of offense.

On Thursday night in Dummerston, the Walpole Wild Blue thought they had their game with the Putney Fossils safely put away heading into the seventh and final inning with a 7-1 lead, but the Fossils fought back with four runs to fall short, 7-5. Walpole’s Joey Parrott got the win on the and scored two of his team’s runs, while Chris Ballou got the save, scored one run and drove in another. Center Fielder Jed St. Pierre had two hits, scored a run and stole a base. Putney Catcher Steve Stanley went two for three, scored a run and drove in a pair.

RowBOC– Rowing Program with Brattleboro Outing Club – Docks and Boathouse on Spriing Tree Lane on the West River.

There are 2 openings left in the 2nd Clinic this season – Learn to Row – single and double sculling will be taught.

SUNAPEE AND NEWPORT WINNERS IN CRVBL WEEKEND ACTION

By Kevin McElhinney, CRVBL

The Sunapee Old Lakers improved their season record to five wins and two losses by defeating the Brattleboro River Rats, while the Newport Polar Bears climbed above the .500 mark with a victory over the Keene Black Dawgs in Connecticut River Valley Baseball League action over the weekend.

At Bates Memorial Field in Newport, the host Polar Bears pounded out hits in five run second inning and a six run fifth and cruised to a 15-2 win over Keene Sunday afternoon.

A great event for an even greater cause!

Enjoy a fun day of golf , great food, and prizes while helping to improve the lives of children in need! One of the premier outings in New England, this event benefits the children of Kurn Hattin Homes in Westminster, VT., a charitable year-round home and school for at-risk children from around the Northeast.