Bethel
Twenty-first year Whitcomb High/Whitchester coach Ray Colton, 70, confirmed prior to Friday’s 14-8 win over the Royals that he does not intend to apply to coach the Wildcats — the nickname given to White River Valley Union’s sports teams — next year.
Meanwhile, Colton’s counterpart, 35th-year Royals coach Roger McCrillis, fully expects to continue with the new program if allowed.
McCrillis, 63, was 29 when he took over the Royals in the mid-1980s.
“It’s just part of life at this point,” McCrillis said after Friday’s game. “As of now, the plan is to keep going with it.”
Colton, who owns a Pittsfield, Vt.-based firewood production company, doesn’t plan to sell the business or retire as its chief engineer just yet.
As for softball, however, he’s comfortable with this year’s senior-laden Mountaineers team representing the final chapter.
“I gave it some thought, but I think it’s time to move on,” he said, then added with a smile, “I’m old now.”
Colton spent three years as the Hornets’ assistant before becoming head coach in 1998. His wife, Lynda, has kept score for the duration of Ray’s involvement.
She supports his decision, odd as it may feel to do anything else in the springtime.
“He might tell you he’s 70, but he’s almost 71,” chided Lynda Colton, whose husband’s birthday is in August. “It’s going to be strange not doing what we’ve been doing for so long. He’s good friends with Roger, and I don’t think he’d ever want to compete with him (for the White River Valley coaching job).”
Ray Colton said he and McCrillis have not spoken about their respective plans.
Barring a tournament battle, Friday marked the final meeting between the programs at Bethel Athletic Fields. The Mountaineers and Royals play their final regular-season game on May 19 in South Royalton.
The Mountaineers scored at least once in every inning, batting around in the sixth to score five insurance runs and help improve to 3-0. Center fielder Toni Turner had four hits, the first three off South Royalton starter Paige Ballentine (five innings, 11 hits, 11 runs, nine earned, two walks, two strikeouts). The last came off reliever Ashleigh Brown, who pitched the entire sixth.
Whitchester freshman Chelsie Trask had a two-run double in the first inning and finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs. Catcher and leadoff hitter Sammy Barcomb — one of eight Whitchester seniors — reached base during all five at-bats and finished with a triple and an RBI.
The Mountaineers were shrewd baserunners, advancing on every passed ball and wild pitch to complement eight steals.
The 14 runs were only about half of the season high for Whitcomb-Rochester, which has outscored its opponents, 59-9, after sweeping two lopsided games against Rivendell to start the year. “We have some good, smart hitters,” Colton said. “This was a good test today, but the girls hung in there.”
Whitchester freshman pitcher Fiona Vaillancourt struggled with control early, walking three in a three-run top of the first to spot South Royalton (2-4) an early lead.
The Mountaineers never trailed again after plating four in the bottom of the first, and Vaillancourt went on to strike out nine while allowing just four hits. She retired the side on eight pitches in the fourth inning but struggled again in the fifth with three walks (one with the bases loaded) during a four-run Royals rally that pulled the visitors within 8-7.
“I think (the struggles were a result of) nerves against a rival,” said Vaillancourt, who as an eighth-grader backed up older sister Laura Vaillancourt, a 2017 Whitcomb graduate. “We haven’t played a whole lot, so it took me a while to kind of settle in.”
It was the second start of the year for Vaillancourt, who is platooning in the circle with classmate Trask. Both had no-hitters in the home-and-home set against the Raptors.
“They both played as eighth-graders for a good team last season, so they have some experience,” said Colton, whose 2017 squad was a VPA Division IV finalist. “I think they learned a lot, and they fit in well with our older players.”
The experienced Mountaineers, of course, would cherish granting Colton a championship in his final season. Colton’s teams are 2-3 in finals, dropping their last three appearances after back-to-back Whitcomb titles in 2003-04. The Mountaineers were edged by West Rutland in last year’s championship game, 8-7.
“He told us he’s done after this year, so we really want to do it for him,” said senior Hayley Mears, who had a hit and scored twice on Friday. “We definitely have the team that can do it.”
Aside from relief pitcher Brown, the Royals started four freshmen and had another enter in the fourth inning. That group was led at the plate by left fielder Blake Southworth, who tripled and scored three times from the No. 2 spot.
“We made too many mistakes, but we actually look pretty good (considering) there are four or five freshmen out there,” McCrillis said. “We’re learning.”
Jared Pendak can be reached at jpendak@vnews.com or 603-727-3225.