Spring of 2019 saw plenty of success for Otter Valley sports teams, none more so than for the baseball squad. The Otters earned the No. 1 seed in D-II before falling to Fair Haven in a close final.
Only one player, senior catcher Alex Polli, returns from that squad, but there are 37 players in the program, including another four seniors — Lane Eddy, Lucias Sheldrick, Dylan Gaboriault and Parker Todd — and six juniors, many of them varsity athletes in other sports.
Coach Mike Howe will emphasize fundamentals, and word has it that there are decent pitchers among those who signed up. The Otters should be competitive — and they proved it by rallying past D-I rival Rutland in their opener.
Right behind the baseball team in 2019 was the OV softball team, which earned D-II’s No. 2 seed and lost to Mount Abe in the D-II final.
The program lost many key players to graduation, but strong turnout should boost Coach Kelly Trayah’s Otters, as well as overall quickness and athleticism.
There are three seniors with 2019 experience: shortstop Mia Politano, first baseman Jadynn Pope and catcher Josie Cone. MacKenzie McKay could lead a deep pitching rotation that will also feature Miyiah Hall and Ryleigh LaPorte as OV looks to contend again — this season in D-III, where they could make some noise.
AD Steve Keith said low numbers did not allow OV to field a girls’ tennis team this spring, but there were plenty of athletes to populate the OV boys’ lacrosse team, another group that enjoyed 2019.
The Otter boys’ lax team two years ago posted a winning record that included a first-round playoff victory that preceded a 3-2 quarterfinal setback to eventual champion Stowe.
Coach Jesse Milliman resigned due to work and family reasons, Keith said. But he is confident that OV teacher Matt Clark, a former college player and assistant coach, can keep the momentum going with 30 athletes signing up and an emphasis on skill development.
Keith said he is optimistic: “We look forward with excitement for Coach Clark to maintain the level of success of the Otter Valley boys’ lacrosse program.”