Adam Aucoin
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Sports Editor @RutlandHerald | Former stops: @banner_news, @MDCollegian | Proud UMass Amherst alum | Retired intramural floor hockey defender
Articles by Adam Aucoin
Vermont wins 4th straight Shrine Bowl
CASTLETON — The best recently-graduated Vermont high school football players accomplished something that hadn't been done in state history on Saturday. Vermont cruised past New Hampshire 42-12 in the 73rd annual Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl at Vermont State University Castleton's Dave Wolk Stadium. The victory was the fourth straight for the Green Mountain State in the historic contest, the first time in series history that Vermont has won the game four years in a row.
Essex Post 91 wins 14th state title
Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear. The object is the Essex Post 91 American Legion baseball team and it is inching close to the top of the list for most state championships in Vermont history. Essex Post 91 locked up its 14th American Legion state championship in program history, beating Lyndon Post 30 11-6 in Friday's state title game at St. Peter's Field. Essex advanced to that title game with a 9-5 win against Ludlow Post 36 in the earlier contest at the field.
Essex's Caiano tosses no-hitter
FAIR HAVEN — There has been incredible offense throughout this year's Vermont American Legion state tournament, but on Tuesday, it was a pitching performance that stole the show. Essex Post 91's Nico Caiano delivered a dominant performance, tossing a no-hitter in a 10-0 six-inning victory over Brattleboro Post 5 to keep the 91ers alive in the tournament. Caiano struck out five and got excellent defense behind him to keep the no-hitter intact.
Ludlow knocks out Addison County
FAIR HAVEN — The Ludlow Post 36 American Legion baseball team is a resilient bunch. Ludlow struggled to keep up with top-seeded Essex Post 91 on the second day of the Vermont American Legion state tournament, but Post 36 was quick to flush that performance. Ludlow bounced back in a massive way on Monday, blasting Addison County 16-1 in five innings in a state tournament elimination game at Fair Haven Union High School.
Essex, Lyndon stay unbeaten in tourney
A Northern Division team has won the Vermont American Legion state championship every year in the 2020s and a pair of teams from the North have put themselves in a prime spot to go far in this year's tournament. Essex Post 91 and Lyndon Post 30 were the only teams to have a spotless mark in the state tournament after play concluded on Sunday in Fair Haven.
Lower seeds shine on first day
FAIR HAVEN — If there was one thing that was gathered from the first day of the American Legion baseball state tournament, it's that seeds matter very little when the games are played. Nobody exemplified that more than four-win Lakes Region, who nearly upset 16-win Essex Post 91 at Fair Haven Union High School. Down the road at the Fair Haven Recreation Field, lower seeds also impressed.
Ludlow ends regular season on high
FAIR HAVEN — The town of Ludlow is baseball crazy. Anyone who attends their home games at Paul Pullinen Field can see how much Ludlow Post 36 makes those games a community event. That baseball-loving community has had a contender to root for this summer. Ludlow has been one of the crown jewels of the Southern Division and finished off the regular season with a 15-4 win in six innings over Lakes Region on Wednesday at Fair Haven Union High School.
Rutland snaps five-game skid
Wins are so important this time of year for Vermont American Legion baseball teams. With the state tournament a week away, teams are doing everything they can to make sure they have a seat at the playoff table. The Rutland Post 31 American Legion baseball team has been struggling to find  those wins as of late, but secured a key one on Saturday, beating Bellows Falls Post 37 8-3 at St. Peter's Field.
Brattleboro tops Rutland for district title
The Brattleboro Little League 12-and-under all-star team has big game experience. That experience showed when the lights were brightest as top-seeded Brattleboro beat Rutland County Little League 10-0 in five innings to capture the District 2 championship at White Memorial Park on Friday. Brattleboro swept the series with Rutland, having also topped RCLL in a 3-2 thriller on Wednesday in the first game of the championship series.
Patch, RC Impact blank Argyle
WEST RUTLAND — During the school year, Larissa Syvertson bleeds green and gold, Jenna Patch bleeds red and blue, Quinn Durfee bleeds navy blue and white and Dylan Collins bleeds Mountie green and Phantom maroon. During the summer, those four and their Rutland County Impact softball teammates bleed blue and white. The Impact added to a successful summer, blowing out Argyle 12-0 in five innings in Tri-County Middle League action on Tuesday on a hot day at West Rutland School.
Notebook: VPA adopting uniform initiative
You associate teams with their uniforms. When you go to a Poultney game, you'll be flooded with blue and gold. When you arrive in West Rutland, you'll see green and gold everywhere. Arrive in the state's capital in Montpelier and you'll find a ton of green and white inside their gym. Uniforms are part of an identity. According to research done by the Vermont Principals' Association, uniforms can also create a form of anxiety, especially in female athletics.
Politano wins second Vermont Amateur in three years
MANCHESTER — Lucas Politano has done a ton of caddying at Ekwanok Country Club, helping others know how to attack the course. The last three days, it was Politano's turn to put that knowledge to the test. Politano, an Otter Valley graduate and Ralph Myhre Golf Course golfer, was at his best all week, winning the Vermont Amateur golf championship on Thursday at Ekwanok.
Bennington blanks Rutland 10U
The Bennington Little League 10-and-under all-star team put on a strong pitching display, beating Rutland County Little League 5-0 in Wednesday's District 2 tournament game at Whites Memorial Park. Bennington used a pair of pitchers to throw a one-hitter with Rutland's only hit coming off the bat of Noah Howe in the bottom of the fifth inning. Carter LaFountain was dominant in his 3.2 innings of work, allowing no hits and striking out six.
Impact sweeps rival Slate Valley
FAIR HAVEN — The West Rutland and Mill River softball teams had elite arms going to battle for them in the circle this spring. Emma Lee helped lead her Golden Horde squad to a Division IV state title and Jenna Patch played a huge role in the Minutemen being a team nobody could take lightly as well. Lee and Patch team up to form quite the pitching duo during the summer for the Rutland County Impact.
Rutland 12U opens with victory
The Rutland County Little League 12-and-under all-star team found itself in a dogfight in its District 2 tournament round robin game against Bennington on Monday. Then a nail-biter turned into a runaway. Rutland plated eight runs in the bottom of the fifth, rolling to a 14-5 win over Bennington to get the district tournament off on the right foot. "We had a couple errors to start the game and the kids wanted to come back and prove themselves.
Rivals Lakes, Rutland split twin bill
The Lakes Region baseball team took plenty of lumps in the first half of the American Legion season, but is feeling like it might be turning a corner. On Thursday, the Lakers split a doubleheader with Brattleboro Post 5, earning their first win in the process. Sunday, Lakes Region did the same against rival Rutland Post 31. The Lakers erased a late deficit to beat 13-11 in a wild first game, before falling 12-2 in five innings in the second contest.
Walsh looks to defend Amateur title
Burlington Country Club's Michael Walsh had been knocking on the door of a Vermont Amateur championship for years. Walsh, a former Division I college golfer, had been in the hunt for years, but it had eluded him. That is until last summer. Walsh captured the Vermont Amateur championship at Manchester Country Club, doing so against an elite field of competition. Now, Walsh will look retain his spot atop the Vermont Amateur ladder.
A sneak peak at Vermont's high school football season
The 2025-2026 Vermont high school sports season wrapped up a few weeks ago and month of July is quickly hurdling towards us, meaning the first day of high school football practices is less than two months away. Vermont Football Coaches' Association has the 2026 football schedule posted, so it's a perfect time to start thinking about what may be ahead this fall and dream upon some of the matchups we'll get to witness.
Howe repeats as RH baseball POY
Every team wants its leaders to have passion. If those athletes care, there is a trickle down effect to the rest of the team. Jackson Howe was one of the leaders of the Otter Valley baseball team and it was clear the passion and the emotion he had for his team when the Otters fell just one game short of reaching a Division II state final this spring. With all of the passion he plays with, Howe is also one heck of a player on the field.
Post 13 pulls away in 8th
FAIR HAVEN — It was a quieter summer in Bennington last year without American Legion baseball. Bennington Post 13 made its return to action this summer and nabbed its first win of the season on Sunday, beating Lakes Region 7-3 in eight innings at Fair Haven Union High School. The second game was postponed due to rain leaving the field unplayable. A makeup date is to be determined. Bennington led most of the way, but the Lakers battled back and tied the game 3-3 to force extra innings.
Brattleboro edges Rutland in extras
The Brattleboro Post 5 American Legion baseball team has had teams in the past that boast loads of experience, giving them a strong base to build on. This year's Brattleboro squad is talented, but has a much younger feel. One of the young faces of the squad, 15-year old Jackson Dermatis, came up clutch with the game-winning RBI in Post 5's 3-2 win over Rutland Post 31 in eight innings on Friday at St. Peter's Field.
Cerreta, Baker earn lax POY honors
Lacrosse players who play in the midfield have an important role. They are the link to both sides of the field and having someone elite in that spot can lead to success. The Rutland boys and girls lacrosse teams had stalwarts in that part of the field that led the way for the rest of their squads. Faceoff specialist Josh Baker and midfielder Ally Cerreta earn Rutland Herald Boys and Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year honors for their standout senior campaigns.
Serafin repeats as Ultimate POY
Ultimate frisbee is a sport that can take some time for an athlete to master. The game is much more than just tossing a disc around around. There is strategy to how you attack opposing defenses and in the way you defend an opponent. It helps to have athletes that know the game like the back of their hand. Mattie Serafin has been one of those types of athletes for the Mill River Ultimate team for years. For the second straight year, Serafin is the Rutland Herald Ultimate Player of the Year.
Jamieson walks it off for Lakes
FAIR HAVEN — It was Jacob Jamieson's birthday on Tuesday. His present? A chance to play hero for Lakes Region in its American Legion baseball season opener. The Fair Haven standout came through for the Lakers, notching a walk-off single to secure a 6-5 win against rival Rutland Post 31 at Fair Haven Union High School. Jamieson nearly walked it off earlier in the at-bat, smashing a ball down the third base line that went foul.
Ticonderoga rolls past Slate Valley
FAIR HAVEN — The Ticonderoga softball team's jerseys were late-arriving, but there bats certainly weren't. The Sentinels, whose uniforms hadn't arrived for the first game of the season, cruised to a 13-4 victory over Slate Valley in their Tri-County Middle League softball opener at Fair Haven Grade School. Slate Valley's home games this year will all be at Fair Haven Grade School, moving over from the high school.
West Rutland repeats as D-IV champs
CASTLETON — Firetruck sirens could be heard ringing through the small town of West Rutland at dinner time on Sunday. A state championship celebration was on the menu. The top-seeded West Rutland softball team earned its second straight Division IV state championship, beating No. 2 seed Blue Mountain 3-0 on Sunday at Vermont State University Castleton's Spartan Field. It was the seventh state championship in program history for the Golden Horde.
MSJ wins first baseball title in 77 years
BURLINGTON — The 1940s treated the Mount St. Joseph baseball team well with three state crowns, but nearly eight decades later, the Mounties were still in search of adding a fourth number on the championship banner housed in Martin McDonough Gymnasium. MSJ had its share of near-misses, in recent vintage most notably a pair of state finals appearances in 2012 and 2014, but the fourth crown had remained elusive. That title will elude them no longer.
MVU captures fifth state title
CASTLETON — It was a pitchers' duel until it wasn't. Third-seeded Rice and fourth-seeded Missisquoi Valley battled through four innings of Saturday afternoon's Division II state championship game with a stalemate, a pair of goose eggs in the run column. It was anybody's game to take in the late innings and the Thunderbirds made sure it would be theirs, beating Rice 8-0 at Vermont State University Castleton's Spartan Field.
Titles on the line at Centennial Field
The Vermont Lake Monsters have gotten off to hot start to the 2026 Futures League campaign, so there has been a lot of quality baseball played at Centennial Field thus far this summer. A different kind of elite baseball will be played there this weekend with the Vermont high school baseball state championships on tap.
Lyndon knocks out OV in D-II semifinal
LYNDON CENTER — Lyndon baseball team right fielder Connor Hale put his face on the line to secure a Division II state championship appearance for the Vikings. The junior crashed into the wall for a catch to rob power-hitting Jackson Howe of a ball that had a chance to get out of the ballpark and ended the contest.
MSJ ends Hazen's run in semifinals
St. Peter's Field was a place of redemption for the Mount St. Joseph baseball team on Tuesday. Last year, MSJ was in an eerily similar spot to the one it was in on Tuesday as the higher seed against a lower seed on a Cinderella run. In 2025, the Mounties weren't the team to put a stop to that run, but this time, they got the job done. Third-seeded MSJ locked up a spot in the Division IV state championship game, beating No. 7 Hazen 8-2 in a D-IV semifinal at St. Peter's Field.
Lee tosses shutout, WR advances
WEST RUTLAND — There was a lot of unknown for the West Rutland softball team coming into the 2026 campaign. The class of 2025 was as elite as they come, so it was going to be on a newer group to put their stamp on the team. What a solid stamp are beginning to leave. The top-seeded West Rutland softball team locked up its fifth straight Division IV state semifinals trip, beating county foe No. 8 Mill River 5-0 in Saturday's D-IV quarterfinal.
OV powers its way to D-II semifinal
BRANDON — The Otter Valley baseball team is partying like it's 2019. That year was the last time the Otters made a state semifinal run, eventually falling in the Division II state championship game to rival Fair Haven. For the first time in seven years, Otter Valley will return to the semifinal stage. The third-seeded Otters beat No. 6 Middlebury 11-1 in six innings in a Division II quarterfinal on Friday.
Proctor ends rival Westside's season
WEST RUTLAND — The Proctor baseball team has had its share of playoff demons over the last few years, but this year's Phantoms squad is determined to be different. Fifth-seeded Proctor put three straight Division IV playoff losses in the past, beating rival No. 4 West Rutland 14-5 in Wednesday's D-IV quarterfinal. The playoff win was the first for the Phantoms since their quarterfinal triumph against Northfield in 2023. "It's awesome.
Rutland girls snap playoff drought
The Rutland girls lacrosse team has been starving for playoff success. RHS's last playoff win came in 2023, but that was via forfeit against Rice. You have to travel back two more years to 2021 to find the last time Rutland won a playoff game on the field. That drought is in the past now. The No. 8 seed Rutland girls lacrosse team captured a 9-1 Division II playdown victory against No. 9 Milton on beautiful day at Alumni Field.
Blue Mountain looks to join elite club
There are four members of The Beatles, four heads carved into Mount Rushmore, four seasons of the year and four suits of playing cards. Many things come in fours. One thing that doesn't come that way is the group of Vermont high school baseball teams that have won four straight state championships. Currently, that group has a membership of three.
MSJ locks up three-seed in D-IV
PROCTOR — St. Peter's Field will see plenty of action this summer with the Rutland Post 31 American Legion baseball team calling it home, but it will get at least one more chance this spring to show itself off as well. The Mount St. Joseph baseball team locked up the No. 3 seed in the Division IV tournament, beating rival Proctor 14-7 Saturday afternoon.
Four in 7th lifts Westside to win
NORTH CLARENDON — Division II has been talked about as the high school softball division with the most depth in the state this year. Division IV may be giving it a run for its money. The Mill River softball team entered Friday as the No. 7 ranked team in Division IV, but the Minutemen nearly knocked off the team residing in the No. 1 spot, West Rutland. Mill River led much of the way, but the Golden Horde were on top when it counted, beating the Minutemen 9-6 on Friday.
RHS wins second match in a row
The goal is always to be playing your best when the biggest matchups are coming around. The Rutland boys tennis team can certainly say that it is doing that. RHS captured its second straight win to close the regular season, beating rival Mount Anthony 5-2 Thursday afternoon at White Memorial Park. The victory made it a season split between the Southern Vermont League foes with MAU inching out a 4-3 win last Friday in Bennington. "Our scores don't reflect how well we're playing.
RHS stands up to contending Hartford
The Rutland softball team entered its home finale with a winless record, but that would be a tough assumption to make given the performance it had on Wednesday. Rutland gave Division II state title contender Hartford all it could handle, but fell 5-4 at Northeast Field. Hartford has had a handful of games go down to the wire, most notably extra inning affairs with D-I Mount Anthony and Burr and Burton Academy.
BBA stays hot vs. rival Rutland
Less than three weeks ago, the Burr and Burton baseball team looked like a squad that might be written off among the Division I contenders. On May 8, the Bulldogs suffered a blowout loss to rival Mount Anthony and dropped to 2-4 on the season. In late May, it is a totally different story. BBA has rattled off seven straight wins since that loss. The Bulldogs kept on rolling, beating rival Rutland 10-3 on Tuesday at Giorgetti Field.
Elite teams fight for top seeds
This time next week Vermont high school baseball teams will beginning their playoff journeys, but there is still plenty of work to do before that day arrives. Each of the state’s four divisions has intrigue for who will lock up the top seed and provide themselves the ideal path for the state tournament. Essex has been the class of Division I all season long and is the only team in the division that is undefeated.
Baseball teams battle for top seeds
This time next week Vermont high school baseball teams will beginning their playoff journeys, but there is still plenty of work to do before that day arrives. Each of the state's four divisions has intrigue for who will lock up the top seed and provide themselves the ideal path for the state tournament. Essex has been the class of Division I all season long and is the only team in the division that is undefeated.
Siemons scores first 358 Modified victory
WEST HAVEN — The DirtCar 358 Modifieds took center stage Saturday night as Devil’s Bowl Speedway hosted the first night of the annual Northeast Crate Nationals, one of the marquee dirt track racing events for Sportsman Modifieds in the Northeast. Group Time Trials for drivers who aspire to qualify for the $5,000 to win 100-lap event were also on tap.
Proctor earns split with Westside
PROCTOR — Teams are gearing up for the state tournament with pairings coming out in a week, meaning every game has more and more stakes as the days fly by. The Proctor baseball team is aware of that, but first-year coach Ken Crowningshield wanted his team to take a more simple approach to Saturday's 11-5 rivalry win against West Rutland. "We looked at the stats and we said, listen, we need to put all of these aside. It's a fresh start.
Hartford breaks it open late vs. OV
BRANDON — Hartford junior left-hander Wyatt Chambers ups his game in the biggest moments. Earlier in the season, he tossed a gem against Division II contender Lyndon Institute, and on Thursday, he was elite once again against another D-II title hopeful Otter Valley. Chambers went the distance, leading the Hurricanes to a convincing 13-1 win over the Otters. The victory kept Hartford undefeated in Southern Vermont League B Division play.
Hartford breaks it open late vs. OV
BRANDON — Hartford junior left-hander Wyatt Chambers ups his game in the biggest moments. Earlier in the season, he tossed a gem against Division II contender Lyndon Institute, and on Thursday, he was elite once again against another D-II title hopeful Otter Valley. Chambers went the distance, leading the Hurricanes to a convincing 13-1 win over the Otters. The victory kept Hartford undefeated in Southern Vermont League B Division play.
St. Johnsbury baseball blanks Rutland, 5-0
The Rutland baseball team has been competitive with a good chunk of the teams it has been across the diamond from, but there have been stretches where the big hit has eluded them. Rutland is currently in one of those stretches. RHS was shut out for the fourth straight game, losing to St. Johnsbury 5-0 on Tuesday at Giorgetti Field. It wasn’t for lack of contact on Tuesday.
Fair Haven snaps five-game skid
FAIR HAVEN — Baseball is a game where you can't let one bad day linger. You have to flush it because a new challenge is right around the corner. A 13-run sixth inning was a nightmare for the Fair Haven baseball team on Monday against Hartford and the Slaters had to quickly move on with Windsor coming to town just two days later. Fair Haven bounced back in a big way, beating the Yellow Jackets 8-2 Wednesday afternoon.
St. Johnsbury blanks Rutland, 5-0
The Rutland baseball team has been competitive with a good chunk of the teams it has been across the diamond from, but there have been stretches where the big hit has eluded them. Rutland is currently in one of those stretches. RHS was shut out for the fourth straight game, losing to St. Johnsbury 5-0 on Tuesday at Giorgetti Field. It wasn't for lack of contact on Tuesday.
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