They just keep coming at BFA-St. Albans. When you build a program like the one in St. Albans, kids want to play.
The Comets have won 11 state titles and have been to the championship game 20 times. Coach Bert Berthiaume is one of two softball coaches in Vermont history to eclipse 500 victories and is the all-time leader.
A new addition this year is freshman pitcher Irie Shedd. What a debut she had. Shedd struck out three in the top of the first inning in a 13-1 victory over South Burlington. So much for nerves in your debut.
She had nine strikeouts in her three innings of work by brandishing a devastating rise ball.
The Comets are a sure fire contender as they try to defend their Division I state crown but worthy challengers are lined up and many of them cracked the top 10 in the Rutland Herald/Times Argus first weekly power rankings.
The stunner on Tuesday: Lyndon Institute with a 17-7 victory over Oxbow ending the Olympians’ long winning streak.
Here is the first edition of the 2026 Rutland Herald/Times Argus softball power rankings. The rankings were constructed prior to games played on Wednesday.
1. BFA St. Albans 5-0, The Comets defeated a very good Colchester team on Tuesday, 8-3.
2. Missisquoi 2-1-1. The Thunderbirds played BFA-St. Albans tougher than most before falling 6-1. They tied Colchester and drubbed St. Johnsbury 12-1. The one that really catches your eye, though, is the 10-1 victory over CVU on Tuesday.
The rivalry rematch with neighboring BFA-St. Albans is May 1. That should be telling.
3. Colchester 2-1-1. The Lakers beat Essex 13-6. Don’t let Tuesday’s loss to BFA-St. Albans fool you. This team is for real and could wind up in Castleton on State Championship Weekend in Castleton.
“This is an experienced team led by four seniors. There is a balance with solid pitching, defense and hitters. This is a team that should be one of the top five teams in Division I and be competitive against any opponent,” Colchester coach Mat Robinson said.
4. Mount Anthony 3-1. The Patriots lost a one-run game to Burr and Burton Academy, their first loss to the Bulldogs in many years. They have a terrific 1-2 punch in the circle with Emily George and Abby Foster. They just might be southern Vermont’s team with the best chance at making a run at the Division I state crown. They validated that assessment by beating a strong Hartford team 10-3 on Tuesday.
5. Mount Abraham 2-0. The Eagles opened with a bang, breezing to a 20-7 victory over Spaulding and then crushed Harwood 21-0 behind the three-hit itching of Gretchen Toy and a prolific offense led by Morgan LaRocque’s 4-for-4 showing a with a double and four RBIs. They are a threat to defend their Division II state championship.
6. Oxbow 2-1. The Olympians sent a message right away, storming to an 18-3 victory over Spaulding. The message: The O’s are serious about capturing an amazing sixth consecutive state championship. Noemi Rose struck out nine Crimson Tide batters in her four innings and Brooke Osgood fanned three in her inning. But then came that surprising (to many) 17-7 loss to Lyndon Institute on Tuesday that halted the O’s 68-game winning streak.
Does that mean the O’s tumble out of the rankings? Hardly. Everyone has a hic-cup sometime and a 68-game win skein and five straight state crowns count for something. But stay tuned.
How impressive was Oxbow’s winning streak? Bishop O’Connell of Virginia entered the season with the nation’s longest win skein in high school softball at 75 games.
7. Lyndon 2-0. The Vikings got everyone’s attention. Are they THAT good? Are they as good or better than Oxbow? Is it possible that game was a meeting of 2026 state champions — Lyndon in Division II and Oxbow in Division III? Intriguing questions awaiting answers.
Lyndon pitcher Grace Griswold is some addition. She led Woodsville to the Division IV New Hampshire state championship last spring.
8. Otter Valley 2-1 Softball is serious stuff for the Otters. They played a lot of ball through the winter and look ready to make some waves in Division II with premier pitcher Sophia Parker who authored a perfect game on Tuesday. The next two games are big mountains to climb — Mount Anthony and Mount Abraham.
9. Hartford 5-1. The loss to D-I Mount Anthony does not take the contender tag off the Hurricanes in Division II.
10. CVU 1-1-1 The Redhawks tied BFA-Fairfax and smothered Rutland 17-4 before losing 10-1 to Missisquoi. The jury is still out.
Division I — 1. BFA-St. Albans 2. Colchester 3. Mount Anthony 4. CVU 5. BBA.
Notes: Burr and Burton’s 4-3 victory over Mount Anthony was a watershed win as it was the first win over their nearby rivals in years. … You can be certain that Mount Anthony has the date of May 8 circled on the calendar. That is the day that the Patriots make the short trip to Manchester for the rematch with Burr and Burton.
Division II — 1. Missisquoi 2. Mount Abraham 3. Lyndon 4. Otter Valley 5. Hartford.
Notes: U-32 actually outhit Hartford despite losing to the Hurricanes. U-32 Sisters Grace and Elena Noyes are two of the best players in the division. … The crowds at Otter Valley have been large in recent years, particularly sprawling a long way down the right field line. They should only grow behind this edition of Otters softball.
Division III — 1. Oxbow 2. BFA-Fairfax 3. Randolph 4. Bellows Falls 5. Fair Haven.
Notes: BFA-Fairfax outslugged Division II Milton 13-10. Winning pitcher Tatum Gaudette had two base hits. … Oxbow has not only been dominant during the regular season, the Olympians have made a shambles of the last four D-III state championship games, winning them by a combined score of 72-5.
Division IV — 1. Proctor 2. West Rutland 3. Richford 4. Leland & Gray 5. Mill River.
Notes: Proctor’s Olivia Graham reached the 200-milestone for career strikeouts and that included only her two years at Proctor. She played her freshman and sophomore seasons at Mill River and believes she might have had 100 strikeouts wearing the Minutemen’s uniform. … Richford is young yet experienced. A group of eighth graders who were on the 2024 state champions team return as sophomores and they include pitcher Sophia Derby. Adi Chagnon also gets time in the circle. The Rockets got got hammered by Division II Rice on Tuesday, but make no mistake, Richford is a red hot D-IV contender.