I am so excited for this matchup, if nothing else for the historical awesomeness of it.
These two teams have not met in a playoff game in a very, very long time - not since before this sportswriter was born - yet both have come to symbolize top-notch baseball in Vermont. They last met for the quarterfinals in 1982, where Blue Mountain beat Northfield 9-5 as the No. 7 seed.
The No. 2 18-1 Bucks have rejoined D3 after a lengthy stay in D4, where they won two of the last three state championships and appeared in the last three. Blue Mountain has been in D4 since 1998. They beat South Royalton in 2010 4-0 and Black River 3-0 in 2009 but lost to Danville 13-1 in 2011. Blue Mountain has won seven state titles, six in Division 4. The last - and only - in D3 came in 1973 against West Rutland. Blue Mountain has also won in 2001 (UCA, 7-6), 1999 (UCA 17-7), 1998 (Whitcomb 4-2), 1973 (West Rutland 3-2) and 1972 (Williamstown 8-2). They lost in 2011, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003, 1989 and 1975. Needless to say, this community knows the ropes at the state championship level. It will just be interesting to see how they do back in D3. They've gotten this far, though, which isn't bad after just barely moving up a division.
The Bucks may have experience at the state championship level, but the top-seeded Marauders have come to make a habit of being there. They will go for their 17th state championship in 21 appearances after Tuesday's dramatic come-from-behind semifinal win over No. 5 Leland & Gray. Northfield took care of two big-time postseason rivals in BFA-Fairfax, who beat them in the finals last year, and the Rebels, who have been a thorn in their side for years. In fact, L&G knocked Northfield out in three straight seasons: the quarterfinals in 2008, the finals in 2009 and the semifinals in 2010 in a shootout, 19-15.
Northfield is 73-25 overall in the postseason all-time while Blue Mountain is 57-31. Blue Mountain is 7-7 all-time in the finals while Northfield is an impressive 16-4. The Marauders (16-2) last crown came in 2007. They also won in 2006,2001, 200, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1977, 1969 and 1968. They lost in 2011, 2009, 2005 and 1987. They have a sizeable wooden sign on the backstop at their home field, Memorial Park, that reads: "Home of Champions" with the winning dates painted on it. Kind of an imposing thing for opponents to see as they make their way from the on-deck circle to the batter's box.
Northfield did not pitch senior Billy Whaley yesterday. Theo Tillas started the game and Zach Daley came on in relief. They have other arms in their arsenal, but I'm assuming Whaley will get the start Friday at Centennial Field in Burlington. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m.
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