BFA-St. Albans-St. Johnsbury softball semifinals game notes

I will be covering the BFA-St. Albans-St. Johnsbury Division I softball semifinal for the Free Press and NSNsports.net this afternoon and did a little research on the game.

This is the third time BFA and St. Jay have meet in the D-I semifinals. BFA won 8-1 in 2002. This was the last time St. Jay made the semis. The Hilltoppers have a 1-5 all-time record in the Division I semifinals. The one time they won was back in 1978, an 11-8 win over the Comets. St. Jay went on to lose in the finals, 4-3, to Brattleboro.

The Hilltoppers are 4-1 all-time in Division II semis and are 2-2 in Division II title games. St. Johnsbury has been a D-I school since 1988. The 'Toppers are 29-34 in the playoffs all-time and 17-30 in Division I.

St. Johnsbury is 15-2 this season, with one-run losses to Essex (3-2) and BFA (2-1 on May 13 in St. Albans). The Hilltoppers are seeded fourth and advanced to the semis with a 21-0 win over South Burlington and a 4-3 win in eight innings over Mount Mansfield. St. Johnsbury has outscored opponents 205-47 this season.

BFA, the top seed, is 16-0 this season and has outscored opponents 155-16. The Comets, who are on track for their fifth undefeated season in program history, advanced to the semis with a 9-1 win over Rutland.

The Comets ended the regular season with three straight shutout wins and six overall. They have allowed a season-high of three runs three times. In 13 games, they have allowed one run or less.

BFA ended a streak of three straight seasons with out reaching the semifinals this year, it's longest drought of that length since 1985-88. BFA's last title game appearance was in 2007, a 6-2 loss to Essex. It's last win was 1-0 over Essex in the 2006 final. This win capped back-to-back undefeated seasons.

BFA is 12-7 all-time in the semifinals and 7-5 in title games. The Comets are 62-27 all-time in the playoffs.

The last time the Comets did not have a winning record was back in 1987.

Heading into the year's playoffs, the Comets ranked second all-time in softball playoff wins (61) and tied for second in titles won (seven).

Here's the Top 10, all divisions, ranked by number of wins (titles)

1. Brattleboro 72 (9)

2. BFA-St. Albans 61 (7)

3. Peoples Academy 59 (9)

4. Canaan 47 (7)

5. Enosburg 46 (5)

6. Essex 43 (5)

7. Missisquoi Valley 43 (3)

8. Thetford 42 (4)

9. Lamoille 42 (2)

10. Randolph 40 (6)

Jade Desroches: Can't-miss kid about to add to family's legacy

The first time I met Jade Desrochers was five years ago. I was helping coach the Enosburg girls basketball team at the time and was running a summer open gym.

I remember four or five kids showed up, most of whom I knew. There was one kid whom I did not know.

She was 4-foot-nothing. The ball seemed bigger than her.

I turned to one of the girls and asked: "Who invited the fourth grader?"

The girl stared at me with a look of disbelief.

"You don't know who that is? That's Jade Desroches," came the hushed reply, revealing in its tone a level of reverance that surprised me.

Five minutes later, I was in awe, too.

I've told this story so many times I'm sure I've added to the legend, but what I remember is this little wisp of a child walking over to the ball rack, bouncing the ball a couple of times, toeing the 3-point line, a little hop, followed by a big push from a slender right arm and ending with a delicate flick of the wrist. Swish.

Seconds later, from a little further back on the opposite side of the floor. Swish. And it continued. Little further back. Swish. 

I lost count after five straight as I was too busy picking my jaw up from off the floor.

I later learned that she was the cousin of Lindsey Larivee - who was heading into her sophomore season with the Hornets after a brilliant freshman campaign that ended with a state title. Larivee had a great shooting stroke, too.

But Desroches, even though she was heading into her eighth grade, was better (at least on that day) and I told her so. And I told her to tell Lindsey. The aghast look on her face told me she wasn't about to do that.

In hindsight, I learned a lot about Jade that day - that she's a quiet kid, but prideful. That she's a tremendously talented athlete, but humble. That she comes from a great basketball family, but she is now, as she was then, eager to make her own mark.

And tonight, with any luck, she will do just that when she becomes the fourth Enosburg girls basketball player - and fifth member of the Larose family - to reach the 1,000-point plateau.

To read more about Jade and her quest to reach 1,000, here's a link to a story I wrote on Examiner.com.

SHAWN CORROW, when he's not being very happy for a really nice kid from a fine family, is owner of Cold Hollow Photography and a freelance photo journalist. He maintains this blog, his photo website www.coldhollowphoto.com and you can follow him on Facebook (Shawn Corrow) and Twitter @scorrow or you can email him at shawn@coldhollowphoto.com

Make mine a triple

Originally, I planned on getting to four games today, but the best laid plans ...

I did, however, get to three games today.

First, I saw the first half of the BHS-BFA-St. Albans boys lacrosse game.

A couple of observations: 1. Every school needs artificial turf. Sure, not all can afford it, but sports on turf are better than sports on grass. It's not an opinion, it's a fact. Especially in the spring where grass is sketchy at best. Burlington's facility is a great place to play, to watch and to photograph.

2. I don't know enough about lacrosse to say who's good and who isn't, but I've seen BFA play twice this year and they can possess the heck out of the ball. Not sure if that translates into wins, but they had the ball for huge huge chunks of time in both games. Of course, this might mean they are terrible. My knowledge of lacrosse is only slightly worse than my knowledge of field hockey. Although lacrosse is rapidly becoming my favorite spring sport to photograph.

A quick check of the Free Press website reveals the Bobwhites won 6-5, second one-goal win in three games this season. They lost their first game by two goals, but it was tied into the fourth quarter. They won their second game of the season in double overtime. Guess they are determined to put some grey hairs on coach Scott Cooledge this season.

After my trip to B-Town, I made a not-so-quick rush-hour trip to Milton to catch the Yellowjackets against South Burlington in softball and baseball.

How about those Rebel softballers! They beat Milton 2-1 to match their win total from the previous decade. (OK, that's a slight exaggeration - I think.) Milton coach Steph Hurley was gracious - as usual - in defeat, remarking that SBHS has some kids who can put the ball in play with authority. They also have a decent pitcher. Sure, they aren't going to knock off a BFA or an Essex anything soon (right?), they seemed headed in the right direction.

Same, too, for the Rebel baseball team. They opened with a 6-0 win over the 'Jackets. Ben Jenkins was dominant on the mound for SBHS, besting Milton ace Matt Goulet. The 'Jackets made a lot of mistakes, but they are young and coach John Geary will use this game as a teaching tool, I'm sure.

With rain in the forecast tomorrow, I'm planning on a day away from games Friday before resuming my schedule with a game at Enosburg on Saturday, weather permitting.

I'm playing for the Vermont Voltage now ... sort of

Sure, it feels a little chilly still, but here it is April 11 and I've already been to a half-dozen spring sports games. Pretty remarkable, really.

And there's a lot more to come.

I've adjusted my schedule to allow me to get to more games this spring than last year and will once again keep those who care about such things up to date with my travels and tribulations in the days and weeks to come.

I also want to announce a new partnership of sorts with the Vermont Voltage. CHP will be the official photographer of the Voltage this summer and I will be working with the team as a public relations consultant.

This is very exciting news - I've known team owner Bo Vuckovic for over a decade and have marevelled in what he has created in Franklin County. We've toyed with the idea of joining forces off an on again over this span of time, but finally the stars aligned and I'm happy that CHP and the VV are able to team up - here's hoping its the start of a long relationship!

While I'm at it, I would like to thank these organizations for officially jumping on board the Cold Hollow Photo train and allowing me to take their team/individual photos this spring.

Johnson State College softball - my first-ever college gig - a lot of fun and some friendly faces to boot - former Enosburg stars Julie Gervais and Maria Lovelette were on basketball teams I helped coach at Enosburg H.S. and Kaitlyn Mackey was a BFA-St. Albans slugger I covered over the past few years. There were also a trio of players from my alma mater - Hazen Union - inlcuding one, Desiree Lacasse - whose father was a next-door neighbor for a while when I was growing up - man that makes me feel really old.

Northwest Ice U-10 AAU Basketball - Thanks for Shaun Montague and Jeannette Larivee for thinking of me for their team photos. A cute group, to be sure!

Fairfax-Westford and Milton Little Leagues - Our first two Little Leagues! (I've done tons of LL photos, but always as a photographer working with VSI) Very excited to add these groups to the CHP roster - always a little nerve-wracking the first time around, but my contacts there are super to deal with so I'm feeling very excited about this opportunity. Thanks Mary Beth and Cheryl for putting your faith in CHP!

Vermont Voltage Youth Soccer Club - This one is still in development, but the plan is to take their photos sometime in May and is an offshoot of my new relationship with the Voltage.

Thanks one and all for working with CHP and thanks, too, for those schools and leagues that we work with that I didn't mention. You are all very important to me and I appreciate our relationship. While it sounds like we are busy - and we are - there's always room for growth. If you know of a team/school/league that wants to have its photos taken by CHP, just shoot me an email shawn@coldhollowphoto.com or call me 782-5317. If you'd like to see samples of our work, check out the sample page on my website.

Take care and see you on the sidelines.

Shawn

Another title for Hockeytown

I've had the pleasure of covering almost every state title game the vaunted BFA-St. Albans girls hockey team has played - and they've played a lot.

By my count they have won eight in 10 seasons - although nitpickers will say it's seven in nine years. That's because the VPA didn't start sanctioning the state tournament until nine years ago.

But I digress. Suffice to say the Comets own girls high school hockey and it will be a long time, if ever, before that changes.

The Comets won their eighth title on Friday night, and although they have won some close games in the past, none was more close nor more in doubt that their 1-0 win over Spaulding at Norwich's Kreitzberg Arena.

Let's be fair, BFA was outplayed and outshot - 23-8.

But they weren't out hustled and they weren't out-hearted (OK, I know I'm stretching for words here!).

They caught a break - well, maybe more than one - on their only goal.

But you know what? They took advantage of their big break. Had they squandered it, they might still be playing. Both defenses were simply that good Friday night.

Speaking of defense, how about BFA freshman goalie Shanley Howrigan?

How clutch is this kid?

She stole the show in the Comets' quarterfinal win over MVU with a pair of thefts on breakaways. She didn't face as many quality shots against the Crimson Tide, but she was rock-solid. Did I mention she's a freshman? Some kids crumble under pressure - and that's no slam on them - so adults do, too.

But not Shanley - she was poised all night and a huge reason the Comets are basking in championship glow once again.

Another reason is the BFA coaching staff, led by Luke Cioffi. With all due credit to his assistants, Luke's steady hand, upbeat personality and never-say-quit personality has been a constant through a decade of excellence that will never be topped - 10 Frozen Fours, 9 title appearances and 8 state titles.

Congrats to all of those associated with program - past and present - to the coaches, players, parents and fans. You are truly the best high school girls hockey program in Vermont's history.

I will be posting photos from the title game later this week - if you would like to know when they are posted, shoot me an email shawn@coldhollowphoto.com and I'll send you a link to the photos along with a coupon code to save some dough on your next order with www.coldhollowphoto.com.