ST. ALBANS – On Wednesday, May 27, the D1 BFA-St. Albans Comets’ varsity softball team narrowly defeated the D2 Missisquoi Valley Union Thunderbirds 3-2 in a classic in-county contest. The Comets’ walk-off win was sealed in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Nora Tatro plated Chatham Brouillette on a well-placed bunt.
After the game, Tatro and Brouillette spoke of the role they each played in the win.
“It was a really great feeling to win this game,” said Chatham Brouillette after scoring the walk-off run. “I was looking for a pitch to hit in that at bat, but I ended up working a walk. Nora did a great job getting me down to second; when I picked my head up and saw nobody covering the bag, I just kept going and was able to score.”
“It means so much,” Nora said of delivering the walk-off hit. “Being on this team for three years and getting the last at bat and getting Chatham home, it just really meant everything to me, especially in my senior year.”
The Comets struck first as Brouillette led off the inning with a line drive single to left field, followed by an infield hit from Nora. Brouillette later stole home on a passed ball to give the Comets an early 1-0 lead. Marah McGinn kept the pressure on with another sharp line drive single to left, but the Thunderbirds managed to limit the damage and escape the inning, allowing just the one run.
Adam Laroche
MVU sophomore pitcher, Shelby Marchessault, kept the Comets off balance in the bottom of the second, allowing only one hit by Emma Parah.
Shedd struck out the T-birds in the top of the third, returning the Comets to the plate, where Nora Tatro led off with a double. McGinn, who’s had a hot bat all spring, hit a double of her own, scoring the speedy Tatro for the Comets’ second run. A sharp infield play by MVU ended the inning.
Avery Guyette beat out the throw for a single to lead off for MVU in the fourth. A hit by Addyson Longway scored Guyette, halving the deficit. Brooke Pilbin smacked a ball through the infield, advancing Longway,
Jillian Wagner’s bunt baffled Comet defenders, loading the bases. Anna Hillaker worked a walk, pushing the tying run across for MVU. Shedd settled in after the MVU rally, striking out the next three batters.
Khloe Carpenter dropped a single into left to lead off for the Comets in the bottom of the fourth, but Marchessault earned the last out of the inning on a strikeout to keep the score 2-2 heading into the top of the fifth.
Adam Laroche
The Thunderbirds got an early base runner in the top of the fifth, as Guyette beat out a slow-rolling grounder, but Shedd struck out a batter and induced a fly out to end the half inning.
Marchessault came into the fifth strong, retiring three consecutive batters to keep the game tied at 2-2.
Neither team scored in the sixth inning, but after Shedd and the Comets held MVU in the seventh, the undefeated D1 powerhouse won the game on a bunt.
Brouillette came around to score on a walk-off hit by Tatro, whose textbook bunt down the third base side drew the fielder out of the way and opened the opportunity for Brouillette to race home.
When asked about the win in a game that was the most competitive of the season, Brouillette said, “I think this was a good wake-up call for us. It’s easy to think a game is going to be a breeze when you’ve been undefeated, but this was a really good test for us right before playoffs. I think we responded well, got things done, and I think we’ll be really ready for the playoffs now.”
When asked about her final playoff run, Tatro said, “I’m looking forward to seeing how we produce in the playoffs. The family we’ve created here is just awesome. The culture we have and how we’ve worked together all season, I’m excited to see the results.”
Adam Laroche
Comets’ Coach Bert Berthiaume spoke of the close contest, saying, “They gave us everything we wanted today. They small-balled us to death, got timely hits, and Shelby Marchassault was awesome in the circle. She mixed speeds, kept us off balance, and really challenged us.”
As the field emptied, Berthiaume spoke of his assistant coaches, Kevin McGinn, Anne Sargent, and former player, Megan Connor: “It’s really cool to have former players come back and help coach in the program. Having people who have been part of this program for so long makes it special.”
After the game, MVU Coach Bill Sheets shared his thoughts on the close game.
“First off, congrats to BFA,” Sheets said. “They have a great coaching staff, and Irie Shedd was fantastic in the circle.”
Sheets complimented his sophomore pitcher, saying, “Shelby Marshall was outstanding today. She doesn’t get a lot of starts, but she threw 111 pitches, spun the ball extremely well, and frustrated hitters.”
Sheets highlighted MVU’s determination in the rivalry game, “It was really nice to see the battle and resiliency from our team. Even though some of our players struggled against elite pitching, to see them hold their own and be in this game until the very end was great to see.”
Adam Laroche
Sheets also reflected on the assistant coaches from both teams, many of whom are former players giving back to the programs they grew up in.
“We have three assistant coaches who played at MVU, with two playing at the University of Vermont, and then across the diamond, there’s Megan Connor on the other side. I had her for at least 200 games with the Vermont Rockets, and she does an exceptional job over there. I’m super proud of all of them.”
Irie Shedd threw seven innings for the Comets, allowing two runs on six hits, while walking one and striking out 13. Shelby Marchessault threw six and one-third innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits, while walking three and striking out five.