AS ANYONE who has followed the fortunes of Blue Devil sports for the past few months knows, we started covering Williamstown sports last fall and then continued throughout the basketball season. Our goal is to continue our coverage throughout the baseball and softball seasons.

Photo by Bill Croney, The Northfield News Williamstown's Janra Bresett shows her softball pitching delivery at practice last Thursday afternoon. The Blue Devil senior is a three sport athlete and says she thinks the team will be much improved this year. It seems that only two things have changed since I went to my first soccer practice at Williamstown last fall – the uniforms and the sports. The players remain the same just the coaches change. I’m sure it’s the same at small high schools all over the state.

When I made the trek over the hill last Thursday to get a line on the upcoming baseball and softball seasons I ran into a lot of familiar faces and heard a lot of familiar names. As I parked my truck behind the school and overlooking the softball field I realized that I didn’t know just who the baseball and softball coaches were. I had planned to get names and interview permissions from Brian Divelbliss, the Williamstown Athletic Director, but he was out last week so I was on my own. Not to worry - sitting on the tailgate of the truck next to mine were three very familiar faces. Johnny Earls, Mitch St. Onge, and Logan Clark all members of the championship Boy’s basketball team . They were just watching the Girl’s Softball practice on the field down below while they were waiting for baseball practice to start in the gym. They pointed out Hannah Bonneau, the softball coach and I headed down the hill to get the scoop on the upcoming season.

Photo by Bill Croney, The Northfield News Linking The Seasons Williamstown senior Left- Hander, Johnny Earls, follows through after throwing a pitch from the plywood mound in the Williamstown Gym last Thursday afternoon. Behind the basketball star are reminders of a very successful basketball season. Teammate Mitch St. Onge(left) and a basketball just waiting to be picked up. As I made my way down the steep incline and got closer to the practice I realized that I wouldn’t need any player introductions. The kids I saw getting ready for softball season were the same ones I saw during soccer and basketball. Kristin Brown, “Lulu” Perry, Sarah Bailey. Janra Bresett, Cassandra Bernier and lots of other girls were all familiar faces. Coach Hannah Bonneau was not exactly a stranger either. I had met her during the basketball season and seen her at the games. The fourth year teacher is in her third year as the varsity coach and she is looking forward to improving on last year’s 4-11 record. “We have a big group of seniors and we’re looking for that group to step up and we have a very talented group o 10th graders. We also have a couple of girls who haven’t played at this level but they played in the summer and I think they can help us out. With the leadership of the seniors and the talent of the younger players I think we can really improve on last year’s record,” coach Bonneau said. Leadership shouldn’t be a problem. Most of the girl’s met with success during the soccer and basketball seasons and in each case improved the previous season’s record. This group of girls has been here before. “ We have Kristin Brown who is a senior and a three sport athlete. She can do anything you ask her to do. And she is willing to do anything you ask her to do.

She’s the leader of the team. There’s not much question about that,”

the coach said. “We look for her to get on base and make things happen for us and she is the anchor of our defense at shortstop.”

When it comes to pitching the Lady Blue Devils have plenty of arms to put on the mound. “We have three girls that are pitchers this year, Heather Gonier, Janra Bresett, and Shayna Chaloux. I feel good about our pitching prospects,” said coach Bonneau. Getting out of the gym and onto the field last week was a good boost for both the coach and the players and the laid back atmosphere surrounding the practice showed that these girls are taking their softball seriously but they want to have fun as well. The Lady Blue Devils will scrimmage at Whitcomb on April 7th, and then open their season for real at home against Winooski in a 4:30 p.m. game on April 13th.

While the girls were out on the field enjoying the best day of the spring last Thursday afternoon, the boys were spending their last day in the gym. After taking a brief break after climbing back up the hill (as I get older treks like that get steeper and longer!) I found my way into the gym. Once again I was surrounded by familiar faces and introduced myself to a coach that I hadn’t met. Ray Burgos, Johnny Earls, Troy Laughlin, Mitch St. Onge and Justin Beaudet just to name a few were all kids that I had followed and written about in two sports already. While they were loosening up I had a chance to meet coach Jared Hart. Coach Hart is a Williamstown native. He graduated from WHS in 2000 and is in his fourth year as the Blue Devil’s baseball mentor and he is looking to improve on last year’s record. “Last year we had a lot of young players. We had a lot of close games but we only one two.

We were competitive we just couldn’t finish. This year I’m expecting a lot more from them. We dropped down to Div IV this year. I think it’s an advantage because we played Div III for so many years. A lot of the starters have played for me and they know what I expect. So I think we can Improve,” the coach said. If improving the record and gaining wins in other sports is an indication the baseball prospects look good. This group of guys turned around the soccer season and really improved on the basketball record. These guys have been winners and they don’t like to lose. “This year we have pitchers,” coach Hart said,” in past years we had three or four pitchers but this year we have five or six pitchers.” Left handers Johnny Earls and Justin Beaudet and righthander Logan Clark will all see alt of work. “ I’m looking for a lot from Justin and Johnny this year and we have Ray Burgos. Ray is new to pitching but he’s an athlete I think he will do well I see lots of potential. I have a sophomore catcher, Jordan Patterson, who I hope steps up,” the coach said.

This is a veteran team. Most of the players have played for coach Hart for at least three years and know what he expects. “This team has a lot of talent. But they to realize that you can’t win on talent alone. It takes heart. As long as they have that we shouldn’t have any problems.”

Coach Hart said. After watching these kids perform throughout both the soccer and basketball seasons I don’t think he has to worry about heart! Blue Devil Boy’s baseball will get underway on April 10th at Whitcomb and will open at home On April 13th with a 4:30 p.m. game against Winooski.