THETFORD — As mistakes and errors added up for both Thetford Academy and Lamoille Union High, Saturday’s contest came down to mental strength and perseverance.
Thetford emerged successful in that, holding onto a 7-4 win at home.
The Panthers (5-1) committed five errors during the game, while Lamoille (0-4) had six. Only two of the game’s 11 total runs were earned runs. The mistakes came in many forms: some physical, such as throwing a ball over a teammate’s head, and some mental, like a late reaction or a throw to the wrong base.
Thetford head coach Phil Chaput said his team calmed down after a jittery start thanks to a baseball truism he emphasizes to his team.
“The coaching staff and I were just kind of preaching the same thing,” Chaput said. “’You make a mistake, move onto the next one. What are we going to do to pick each other up?’”
Missed opportunities defined the first few innings for Thetford. The Panthers stranded five runners on base in the first two innings while the Lancers opened the scoring in the second.
Thetford scored three runs in the third inning to take a 3-1 lead. Lamoille tied the game in the top of the fourth, but the Panthers answered with a four-run fourth to take the lead for good.
Thetford grabbed control of the game by capitalizing on Lamoille’s mistakes.
“We want to be very opportunistic when we’re on the bases,” Chaput said. “They threw a bunch of different guys out there, but we were able to still run the bases well and make their mistakes really hurt by scoring some runs.”
Thetford junior Ethan Marshia started on the mound and lasted four innings. He gave up three unearned runs on four hits with three strikeouts. Junior Mack Briglin pitched the final three innings for the Panthers, surrendering one unearned run on one hit with one walk and three strikeouts.
Briglin didn’t feel pressure in closing out the win. Lamoille got a runner on base on a walk, but Briglin trusted his defense behind him to get the job done.
“I was just trying to go out there and shut it down, keep the game close and get us the win,” Briglin said. “When I’m pitching, I’m pretty locked in. Support from my teammates helps. Just trying to pound the zone.”
Briglin enjoyed a solid game at the plate as well, going 2 for 3 with a walk, one RBI and two runs scored. Senior Logan Brinkman also went 2 for 3, with a double and a walk. Marshia hit a big RBI double in the fourth to regain the lead for Thetford.
Briglin takes a pitcher’s mentality to the offensive game.
“I’ve really worked hard on my hitting over the past couple years,” Briglin said. “I really like that first pitch because a lot of pitchers try to throw strikes, and usually it’s a fastball. So if it’s anywhere in the zone, I try to put a bat on it and drive it up the middle.”
With the win, Thetford maintains the top winning percentage in the Vermont Principals’ Association Division 3 standings and ranks second in total index points (which assigns points to games inside or outside the division) with 20.5. The victory over Lamoille, a Division 2 school, helps that ranking.
Briglin said that anything is possible for these Panthers this season. Chaput also sees potential in what he described as a well-rounded baseball team.
“Our pitching has been really good, and our defense has been very solid,” Chaput said. “I think that those two things are able to help us out if our bats are silent.”
Lamoille returns home to face Oxbow on Tuesday. Thetford is also back in action on Tuesday, facing Lyndon on the road.
Seth Tow can be contacted at stow@vnews.com.