The 11/12 Little League All Stars from Shelburne began pool play in the Vermont District One Tournament by defeating Richmond 9-0 at Rosenburg Field at Schifilitti Park in Burlington on Saturday, June 26. Shelburne scored four runs in the first inning as both Will Ryan and Shea Ireland singled and scored on a Drew Pitcher single. Nick Fecteau followed with a two-run home run over the right centerfield fence. The game, suspended because of rain, resumed on Sunday with Shelburne putting up four more runs in the third inning. Rayne Supple doubled and scored on Pitcher's home run. Fecteau reached on an error while Harrison Thayer walked and scored on Hugh Sheahan's single to right field. The Shelburne pitchers (Supple, Ireland, and William Hesslink combined) allowed only one hit and struck out 10.

Shelburne also cruised past Charlotte 12-1 Tuesday, June 29 at Schifilliti Field. Shelburne jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning on a two-run shot off Ireland's bat. That would be all the run support necessary because Supple's pitching shut down Charlotte allowing only two hits and striking out nine. But Shelburne provided more run support with a grand slam by Supple in the second inning and a three-run blast by Hesslink in the fifth. Ireland and Supple collected three hits on the day while Hesslink and Alex Kent each tallied two.

Shelburne banged out 16 hits including four home runs in its "mercy-rule" shortened game by defeating Colchester 16-1 on Thursday, July 1. Supple began the scoring with a solo shot off the right centerfield scoreboard. Pitcher launched a three-run bomb after a single by Hesslink and a double by Ireland to stake Shelburne to a quick 4-0 lead. Shelburne extended its lead in the third on singles by Sheahan, Henry Conroy, Ryan, and Supple and a three-run homer by Hesslink. The six-run fourth inning saw consecutive hits by Ryan, Supple, Hesslink, Ireland, and Pitcher punctuated by a three-run tape-measure shot by Thomas Stevens that cleared the scoreboard. Conroy struck out 10, allowed four hits, and no walks.

Shelburne ran up the scoreboard while defeating Winooski 35-0 on July 6. The all stars rapped out 29 hits enroute to its fourth consecutive win in pool play. Conroy and Supple each had two home runs, while Fecteau added a three-run blast as part of his five-hit day. Other hitters were Ireland (five hits), Pitcher (four hits), Kent (five hits), and Ryan (three hits). Ireland pitched a gem holding Winooski to one hit and striking out nine.

Shelburne continued its dominance of opposing pitchers with a 15-0 defeat over Vergennes in its final pool play game on July 9. Hesslink began the scoring in the first by cracking a two-run home run into the bushes in right centerfield with Ryan on base. Ryan was a perfect 4-4 at the plate. Hesslink and Ireland each recorded three hits, Fecteau and Sheahan had two hits apiece, Stevens added a home run and Kent tripled. Hesslink allowed one hit and nine strikeouts over eight innings. Kent hurled the ninth striking out two.

Hitting contributions came from a variety of players: Will Ryan .909 batting average; Shea Ireland .684 and 12 RBI; Rayne Supple .666, 4 HR (two grand slams) and 13 RBI; Alex Kent .600; Drew Pitcher .529, 22 HR, 6 RBI; Nick Fecteau .471, 2HR, 10 RBI; William Hesslink .444, 3 HR, 11 RBI; Henry Conroy .412, 2 HR, 7 RBI; and Thomas Stevens 2 HR, 4 RBI.

Shelburne, with its 5-0 record, advanced to the double-elimination phase of the tournament. The current schedule can be found on www.eteamz.com/northburlingtonlittleleague.