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By: Bruce Bosley
PBR New England Scout

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Vermont Spotlight Game: Division II State Championship - No. 3 Otter Valley vs No. 4 Union-32

BURLINGTON, Vt. -- A game-ending single by sophomore outfielder Nate Hudson delivered senior Colby McKay with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to lift third-seeded Otter Valley to a thrilling 3-2 over fourth seeded Union-32 to capture the school's fourth Vermont Division II crown.

McKay led the seventh with a long double to left center, was sacrificed to second, and one out later after the Raiders intentionally walked two to load the bases, rode home on Hudson’s liner to right center. The Otters heroics came after U-32 tied the game with two outs in the top of the seventh. Down to its last strike, Owen Guthrie singled, stole second and raced home to tie it on Connor Aitchison's base hit down the left field line.

In the third, Aitcheson singled and scored on freshman Carter Pelzel's sacrifice fly to give U-32 a 1-0 lead. OV answered with two in its half of the third on RBI singles by Patrick McKeighan and Dominic McCullough.

Senior hurlers Derek Aines for the Otters and Jackson Root for the Raiders went the route and were outstanding in the crisply played game that took just 1:30 to play. Aines allowed five singles, no walks and struck out seven for the victory.

Root, the tough luck loser, scattered six hits, only four prior to the seventh, striking out one and of the three walks he issued, two were the automatic free passes to set up the force in the final inning.  

Aitchison had two hits for Union-32 (15-6) while Hudson had two hits for the Otters (14-6).

 

Top Performers

Union-32:

• Jackson Root (2017, RHP): Hurled complete game (6.2 IP) allowing only seven hits and one non-intentional walk, strking out one. Induced 12 ground outs among 20 batters retired.
• Connor Aitchison (2017, OF): Went 2-for-3 and factored in both of the Raiders runs, scoring one and driving in the tying run in the top of the seventh.

Otter Valley:

• Derek Aimes (2017, RHP): Hurled a complete game five-hitter striking out seven without a walk. Retired nine straight in middle innings.
• Nate Hudson (2019, OF): Went 2-for-4 with a stolen base. His two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh gave the Otters the state title.