Champlain all-stars roll to back-to-back Vermont Little league softball state titles

Ace Irie Shedd opened the game with a called third strike. She also scored the final run to seal the mercy-rule victory.

From the first pitch to its last, Shedd, along with her teammates, came ready to play, as the 10-12-year-old Champlain all-stars cruised to the second of back-to-back Vermont Little League softball state championships following Saturday's 10-0 triumph over Connecticut Valley at Roger Woods Field at Burlington's Schifilliti Park.

Champlain, which went 7-0 through district and state-tournament play, advances to the New England Region Tournament in Bristol, Connecticut. The Vermont state champions will meet Massachusetts in their first game on July 21.

"It’s a special feeling. It’s almost like another family," said Champlain manager Mike Conger, whose all-star squad consists of players from St. Albans and Georgia. "We look forward to summer, just to be together. This group of parents is just so fun."

In Saturday's state final, Shedd pitched a gem while the Champlain lineup pounced for five first-inning runs. Shedd, a hard-throwing lefty, yielded just one hit and one walk while fanning 10 batters over five innings of work. She was also the winning pitcher in last year's title-game win over Colchester.

"Irie is a special player. She’s one of the best Little League players I’ve ever coached," Conger said. "I don’t think I’ve seen a pitcher like her — even at the regional level."

After Shedd made quick work of Connecticut Valley in the top of the first inning, Champlain sent an early message in its first turn through the lineup. Lily Winegar singled up the middle, Payton Moore bunted for another hit and Shedd beat to throw to first to plate the game's opening run.

Conger said Moore's speed played a factor in deciding to call a bunt in that spot.

"Payton is one of our best bunters and our faster runner on the team," Conger said. "Any time we get a runner on base, we are looking for her to put a bunt down and use those quick feet to get on base."

Bailee Conger then ripped a two-run double and Ellis Montgomery added an RBI single for a 4-0 lead before Connecticut Valley registered the first out of the inning. Champlain tacked on another run in the frame when Khloe Brosseau's single led to a fifth run following a Connecticut Valley error.

"We were preparing for their pitcher all week. We worked on her speed and attacked early," coach Conger said. "That definitely took nerves away, that’s for sure."

Connecticut Valley had its best chance to score against Shedd in the top of the second. Addison Kingsbury led off with an infield single and Jacey Horniack reached on a walk. Later in the frame, with runners on second and third and just one out, Shedd got out of the jam with a strikeout and a caught-stealing at home.

In the third, Brosseau rocked a two-run double to center to highlight a three-run frame and an 8-0 Champlain advantage. The defending champs then wrapped a second straight title in the fifth when Shedd doubled in a run and later scored on Montgomery's grounder for the mercy-rule triumph.

Winegar, Bailee Conger, Montgomery and Brosseau each finished with two hits for Champlain, which has allowed just one run over its seven all-star games this summer.

"A lot of these girls have been working indoors since November. They’ve earned it, they have worked hard," coach Conger said.

Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.