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.

MVU-Milton boys hockey recap

A couple of unrelated thoughts on the MVU boys hockey game with Milton on Wednesday night.

(To read the game story I wrote, you'll need to buy the St. Albans Messenger.)

First of all, how about Milton goalie Nikki-Lyn Lauziere (below)?

The junior - who I think its the only girl playing on a boys hockey team this winter - was nothing short of  incredible, stopping 46 shots against a high-flying T-Bird offense.

Sure, MVU lit the lamp five times, but it could have been 15 with as many quality scoring bids as they put forth.

Milton only has 14 players on its roster, but they all contribute and their conditioning is impressive as they seemed to keep pace with the deep and talented T-Birds for all 45 minutes.

The game was the second for the T-Birds without their charasmatic coach Jason Brace, a former BFA-St. Albans stud who took over last winter for long-time coach Kevin Spears (who was at the game in a Yankee hat - booo! - last night).

Brace will not coach the T-Birds the rest of the season and for good reason: he's being deployed to Afghanistan along with his mates in the Army National Guard.

Brace is a communications specialist and will be gone - but not forgotten - for about a year.

In his abscence, assistants Luc Choquette (himself a fine player for Spears back in the day) and John McDonald.

Choquette said he'll be in contact with his head coach - and good friend - throughout his deployment and that Brace is very proud to serve.

Choquette said the MVU players are also very proud of their coach and hope to see him off when he deploys in early January.

He's wishing Jason and the rest of those deploying in the weeks to come the best of luck in Afghanistan. I'm extremely proud of your service and sacrifice and I appreciate you doing more than your fair share to protect the liberties we all so often take for granted.

My thoughts go out, too, to the families they are leaving behind. You are unsung heroes in your own right. Stay strong and know that there are tons of people who are ready to help and support you in any way we can.

Top local sports team of 2009?

In case you haven't noticed, I'm mighty partial to polls.

(For those of you counting, National Lampoon's Christmas is the leader in the favorite Christmas movie poll and The Grinch and Rudolph are tied for the favorite Christmas special poll - you can still vote until Christmas Eve.)

But I digress ...

For my next poll I need a little help in selecting the choices.

The topic is top local sports team of 2009.

The only criteria is the team must be based in northwestern Vermont (no team further south than Milton or further east than Fairfax).

Here's are the teams I can come up with right off the top of my bald little head - in no particular order.

Milton girls soccer - Division II champs

Missisquoi boys soccer - Division II runners-up

BFA-Fairfax girls soccer - Division III runners-up

Milton Broncos 7/8 Youth Football - NVYFL runners-up

BFA-Fairfax boys basketball - Division III runners-up

BFA-St. Albans girls basketball - Division I runners-up

Missisquoi girls hockey - Division II runners-up

BFA-Fairfax softball - Division III runners-up

The plan is to post the poll on Monday, so if I have missed your favorite team or if you have another suggestion, please add your comments below and give me a good reason or two to put that team in the poll.

A little this and that, high school sports style

Just got back from the Enosburg-MVU girls basketball game in the 'Burg tonight (won by the Hornets, 50-40) and thought it was time to share some thoughts on the young season.

Starting with the game I saw tonight, it was mighty strange to see an Enosburg girls basketball game without Maria Gleason and Lindsey Larivee on the court. I had the pleasure of being an assistant coach their freshmen and sophomore years and covered a bunch of their games in their last two seasons.

I'm pleased to say both are off to good starts at their respective schools - Gleason at Johnson State and Larivee at Plattsburgh State. There has been no better two-some from the same class in the 'Burg and I doubt there ever will be.

I was pleased to see new Enosburg coach Gary Geddes pick up his first win - asuper nice guy and seems to really know his stuff.

I was also impressed with the MVU girls. They aren't going to wow teams with their finesse, but they sure do play hard and gave the Hornets a battle from start to finish.

Milton girls for real

Did you know the Milton girls basketball has nine seniors on it. Nine! They also have no juniors. None! I know it's early, but my guess is the Yellowjackets win it all. They have a ton of size, quickness and talent and coach Mike Lefebvre is good coach and an even better person.

I saw the 'Jackets open up against Harwood and it was 16-0 less than four minutes into the game. Ouch! Lefebvre then called off his press.

Everyone knows Brittaney Rice is a player, but the one I was most impressed with in that game was Kaitlin Geary. If she continues to light it up inside and out for Milton, then a trip to Barre is a given.

MVU boys hockey appears primed for great season

Of course, three games does not a season make, but I've gotten a couple of close-up looks at the MVU bosy hockey team this season and they seem like Division II contenders.

They have plenty of size, speed and skill and I love the approach coach Jason Brace brings to the table. Brace is brash, fun-loving and passionate about the sport and his team and his boys are reflecting that in their play on the ice.

They'll face a tough test Wednesday night at BFA, but regardless of that outcome they should ride the momentum of a stellar soccer campaign into a deep run in the D-II playoffs.

Speaking of campaigns, Brace will leave on a National Guard deployment next month in a stark reminder that for all the blessings we have in this wonderful country there is a price to be paid. Thank God for people like Brace and our other brave troops.

MVU boys hoops on the rise

Another great developing story out of MVU-land is the boys basketball team, which posted one it is most impressive wins in many a moon on Monday when it defeated Division I power Mount Mansfield in overtime.

I'll be shooting the start of the T-Birds' game with Enosburg on Saturday and I'm excited to see them in action. Same too, for the boys from the 'Burg. I'm sure new coach Steve Jette will have his Hornets ready to run with the high-flying T-Birds.

Same old BFA

I watched the first period of the BFA-St. Albans' girls hockey win over the Burlington Seahorses on Saturday and not surprisingly the Comets look very good. I had the pleasure of covering the first few seasons of BFA girls hockey and back then they had lots of depth, tons of talent and had incredibly dedicated and skilled coaching. Nearly 10 years later, nothing has changed.

Change is good

The BFA boys basketball team opened its season a week ago with a win over Colchester and I must say I didn't recognize the Bobwhites. Sure, ageless Kenny Fairchild still roams the sidelines, but who were those whirling dervishes running amok? Fairchild assured me these indeed were his Bobwhites, but given his team's make-up - lots of speed, little height - they are going to be running-and-gunning in the sweatbox otherwise known as the Academy gym this winter. He joked after the game that it's driving him nuts not being able to call plays and that sometimes the pace is too quick for his 'old' eyes to follow. Nice try Kenny. Any coach willing and able to adapt after all of these years is still at the top of his game.

One more thing ... watching Nick Swim run the point is worth the price of admission.