THETFORD — Thetford-Rivendell softball trailed Twin Valley 9-3 after two innings at home on Thursday. But after a pep talk from head coach Jesse Soulia, the Panthers made a big comeback and won 26-14 for their first victory of the season.
The Panthers (1-3) scored 10 runs in the third to spark that comeback.
“Tonight, I watched my team come together and support each other on and off the field,” Soulia said. “Players playing in places that they had not played before. Hits were contagious tonight and I surely enjoyed seeing all the smiles.”
Senior Becca Wells led the way offensively for the Panthers, going 4 for 5 with a home run. Freshman Kelsey Bogie went 4 for 4, and seniors Emma Colby and Crystal Parshley each finished 3 for 5. Thetford recorded 20 hits as a team.
Thetford-Rivendell will take on White River Valley on the road Saturday.
Sunapee 18, Mascoma 4
WEST CANAAN — Mascoma (4-5) lost its fifth straight game at home Thursday after a strong start to the season.
“We are going to be working on getting the bats moving and looking forward to the upcoming games next week,” Royals head coach Chris Thurston said.
Thurston complimented junior center fielder Maggie Morse and senior shortstop Audrey May, saying both made great plays to end innings.
Mascoma will look to break the slump on Monday at home against Fall Mountain.
White River Valley 10, Leland & Gray 4
SOUTH ROYALTON — WRV (5-1) picked up its third straight win at home Thursday.
The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Rebels scored all four of their runs in the second, but WRV answered with a five-spot in the bottom of the second.
Chelsie Trask pitched a complete game for the Wildcats to earn her fourth win of the season. The four runs were all earned, while giving up three hits and eight walks and striking out 11.
Fiona Vaillancourt and Julia Morse led WRV offensively, both finishing 3 for 4 and scoring three runs. Hannah Wood went 2 for 3 with a walk and one run scored.
The Wildcats will host Thetford-Rivendell for their next game on Saturday.
Woodstock 43, Mill River 5 (5 innings)
NORTH CLARENDON, Vt. — Woodstock (1-5) cruised to its first victory of the season on the road Thursday.
The Wasps batted around in every inning except the fourth. They batted around twice in the second inning.
Woodstock set the tone early with 13 runs in the first inning. The Wasps scored 15 in the second, then tacked on seven in the third, two in the fourth, and six more in the fifth.
Woodstock has a full week until its next game, when it takes on Leland & Gray.
BASEBALL
Woodstock 20, Mill River 7 (5 innings)
NORTH CLARENDON, Vt. — Woodstock (3-5) snapped a four-game losing streak on the road Thursday.
Woodstock established a 2-0 first-inning lead. By the end of the third, the Wasps led 10-1.
Senior pitcher Chase Christiansen paced the Woodstock offense from the leadoff position. He went 4 for 4 with a double, a walk, one RBI, and five runs scored. Senior right fielder Memphis Begin finished 2 for 2 with two walks, one hit by pitch, one RBI, and five runs scored.
On the mound, Christiansen threw four innings, giving up five runs on two hits and four walks with seven strikeouts. Junior Liam Harper finished off the win in the fifth, giving up two runs on two hits and one walk with two strikeouts.
The Wasps return home for their next game against Proctor.
Harwood 6, Thetford 5
THETFORD — The Panthers (5-3) dropped their second straight game Thursday at home.
“Harwood took advantage of our mistakes in the first and seventh, accounting for all of their runs,” Thetford head coach Phil Chaput said.
Thetford entered the final inning with a 5-3 lead but Harwood came up with a clutch three-run inning to take the lead.
Logan Brinkman hit a two-run homer in a 1-for-3 day, and he also pitched 2⅔ innings in relief. Ethan Marshia started on the mound for Thetford, giving up three runs (one earned) on three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.
Thetford is back in action on Saturday at Montpelier.
Lyndon 11, Oxbow 1 (6 innings)
BRADFORD, Vt. — Oxbow (3-6) dropped its fifth game out of six Thursday.
The game was within striking distance for the Olympians until the sixth inning, when Lyndon tacked six runs on to its 5-1 lead. Oxbow picked up just two hits in the contest.
Oxbow’s next game is Saturday at Harwood.
White River Valley 15, Leland & Gray 4
SOUTH ROYALTON — WRV (8-0) kept its hot start going in Thursday’s home win.
The scoring was spread out for the Wildcats — their biggest inning was a five-run fifth.
Senior Alex Lober finished 2 for 4 with a double and three runs scored. Senior Jacob Barry went 2 for 5 with two runs scored. Junior Weston Trombly had a 2-for-4 day with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.
Senior Curtis Barry started on the mound for WRV. He gave up three earned runs on eight hits and one hit batsman with one strikeout in 4⅔ innings. Sophomore Robby McShinsky finished out the game, throwing 2⅔ innings without giving up a hit or a walk, while striking out three.
White River Valley will take on Rivendell at home on Saturday.
BOYS LACROSSE
Hartford 12, St. Johnsbury 4
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Hartford (5-3) won its third game in four at home on Thursday.
Sophomore Joe Barwood led the Hurricanes with six goals and one assist. Freshman Ezra Mock scored two goals and assisted on one. Senior Carter Nalette finished with one goal and a team-high two assists. Junior Gordon Willey scored two, and senior Bentley Boonyaharn scored one. Junior Chris Pierce and senior Jackson Balch added one assist each. In goal, junior Tarin Prior recorded six saves.
“Defense played as a unit and communicated well,” Hartford head coach Grant Whiteway said. “Tarin Prior was great in net, and was a leader in the clear game. Our offense shared the ball and played aggressive.”
Next up for the Canes is a home game — their sixth consecutive home game — against Colchester Friday.
Manchester Memorial 9, Hanover 8
MANCHESTER — Hanover (4-3) fell just short on the road Thursday.
The loss is Hanover’s third in four games.
Junior Dylan Hendrick led HHS with three goals. Senior Noah Fahey and freshman Angus Frew both scored two goals and assisted one. Senior Jack Badams added one goal, and senior Brett Simmons and sophomore Mack Levy chipped in one assist each. Senior goaltender Danny Pitiger saved seven shots. Sophomore Jack Gardner won 9 of 11 faceoffs and had nine ground balls.
Hanover returns home Tuesday to face Goffstown.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstock 11, Stratton Mountain 1
WOODSTOCK — Woodstock (1-5) picked up its first win of the season Thursday at home.
The Wasps built a comfortable lead early, as they went into halftime up 8-0.
Woodstock’s scoring was spread out among the team. Junior Hannah Reed scored two goals and assisted one. Senior Lili Sorrentino also scored two goals. Senior Maddi Trimpi, sophomore Isabel Konijnenberg, junior Kellan Johanensen, sophomore Lily Gubbins, freshman Carter Willis, senior Avari Shoemaker and senior Laura Shands each scored one goal in the win.
The Wasps are back in action Saturday at home against Brattleboro.
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstock 7, Bellows Falls 0
WESTMINSTER, Vt. — Woodstock (4-2) won its second match in a row Thursday on the road.
All four of Woodstock’s victories this season have been shutouts.
Six of the seven individual matches Thursday finished in two sets. Junior Meridian Joy-Piper earned a 6-0, 6-0 victory. Wasps head coach Tom Hopewell praised junior Kendall Taylor and freshman Sophia Nisimblat’s efforts. Taylor lost her first set 4-6, but won the second set 6-0, and won the tiebreaker 10-6. Nisimblat won her match 7-5, 6-3.
Woodstock will host Burr & Burton for its next match on Saturday.
Kearsarge 9, Stevens 0
NORTH SUTTON, N.H. — Stevens (1-6) couldn't sustain any momentum from Wednesday’s victory in Thursday’s road loss.
Stevens had to forfeit two matches as junior Riley Murphy — the Cardinals’ No. 1 player — was absent. The Cardinals won just five total games from the seven matches they played.
Stevens wraps up its hectic week with a road match against Lebanon on Friday.