Champlain staves off Colchester to claim Vermont Little League softball state title

The Champlain 10-12-year-old Little league softball all-stars reversed the tides to claim the Vermont state crown.

In a rematch of last year's championship, Champlain, an all-star team comprised of players from St. Albans and Georgia, entered the title round from the winner's bracket against Colchester. Champlain dropped the first game setting up a winner-take-all contest and seized the deciding match 8-5 on Thursday night in Bradford.

"It would have been easy to hang their heads and just quit on a hot doubleheader, but they battled and kept battling and I'm just very happy that they get to continue their season," Champlain coach Brad Brouillette said.

Champlain will represent Vermont in the New England regional tournament that begins on Sunday in Bristol, Connecticut. The Green Mountain State has the first game of the double-elimination tournament, facing the Maine all-stars on ESPN+ at 4 p.m.

VT Little League baseball, softball: 2023 all-star tournament scores

Three of Champlain's first four batters reached base safely and came around to score with Irie Shedd securing a sacrifice RBI. Chatham Brouillette and Amelia Munger both smacked doubles as Champlain plated three more runs in the second. Shedd struck out nine and was credited with the win.

Champlain, who returned five of 12 from last year's runner-up roster, plated a pair in the third to round out the scoring before Colchester scored four in the sixth frame to tighten the deficit.

"We said it's hard to beat a good team twice in a row and we were fortunate to come out and get some good pitching and swing the bats in the second game," Brouillette said.

Colchester worked three walks and had two hits, including a triple by Lexis McFarland, to close the gap in the sixth.

"It was still a little tight there in the sixth inning, but once we got the last out there were a lot of smiles after a long battle," Brouillette said.

Northeast softball wins 8-10 title

The Northeast softball all-stars won the state championship 3-0 over Colchester on Wednesday to cap an undefeated run as Vermont's top squad.

Led by Aliana Talcott's complete game, two-hitter the all-star team of players from Fairfield, Sheldon, Bakersfield, Enosburg, Berkshire, and Montgomery scored all three of their runs in the second inning.

Contact Jacob Rousseau at JRousseau@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter: @ByJacobRousseau