Ranking the very best of Vermont’s high school baseball teams was no easy task. But here’s my crack at the top 10 teams based on results so far on this young season.
One early thought: Champlain Valley has the front-end talent to earn the favorite label from some coaches and yours truly.
As always, please post your thoughts or opinions in the comment section.
Enjoy.
1. Champlain Valley (3-0): Their entire pitching staff returns and their lineup is potent — experience and power that has the Redhawks off to quick start.
2. Mount Mansfield (3-0): The Cougars played non-divisional opponents to start the season. That changes this week, including Saturday’s showdown at CVU.
3. Brattleboro (4-1): The Colonels have two wins over Burr and Burton, last year’s Div. II finalist.
4. Essex (2-1): After losing at Rutland, 2-1, in the opener, the Hornets’ bats went to work, scoring a combined 19 runs in a pair of victories.
5. Mount Anthony (5-2): The defending-champion Patriots lost to Fair Haven last week, their first defeat to a Vermont opponent this season.
6. Colchester (2-1): Aside from an error-filled loss to Middlebury, the Lakers have had a nice start and should be contenders again this spring.
7. Burr and Burton (4-3): After giving up only three runs its first four games, BBA has allowed 26 in its last three (two of them losses).
8. Rutland (3-3): The Raiders face Fair Haven today, a team they rolled 19-5 in the opener.
9. Fair Haven (3-2): The Div. II Slaters’ three wins are against Div. I opponents.
10. Middlebury (2-1): Today, the Tigers welcome Champlain Valley for an early season challenge.
