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Rayne Supple pitched a near perfect game during Shelburne's 4-0 defeat of South Burlington during the District 1 Championship game.

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In its first game of the double-elimination phase of the Little League All Star Tournament at Schifilletti Field Shelburne jumped to a quick 10-run lead in the top of the first enroute to an 18-4 victory in a rule-shortened game against Burlington. Stars at the plate were Shea Ireland (4-4, 4 RBI), Rayne Supple (3-4, 3 RBI), Andrew Pitcher (2-3, 2 doubles). William Hesslink and Henry Conroy each chipped in a homer while Will Ryan, Harrison Thayer, Hugh Sheahan, Alex Kent, Jack Caswell, and Thomas Stevens all hit safely. Pitchers Supple, Ireland, and Conroy combined for seven strikeouts.

Next Shelburne went up against the other undefeated team in the tournament, South Burlington (SB). After a scoreless first inning, SB rallied scoring eight runs on Shelburne starter Supple. Shelburne narrowed the gap on a double by Ireland followed by a two-run shot to right by Nick Fecteau. Unfortunately, it was for naught, as Shelburne could not generate key hits despite many scoring opportunities (most notably stranding eight base runners). Conroy came in relief and shut down SB, and somewhat quieted the raucous SB supporters and players for the remainder of the game. Shelburne scratched out one more run in the 8-3 loss.

On July 18 Shelburne played Burlington American (BA) in an elimination game. Shelburne jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first as Supple doubled and scored as Hesslink reached on an error. Hesslink then scored on Pitchers' single. Shelburne tallied three more runs in the fifth on Ireland's clutch three-run blast. Hesslink and Alex Kent combined to scatter three hits over six innings while Shelburne flashed the leather turning three double plays that shut off BA threats throughout the game. Supple collected three doubles, Ireland had two hits including the three-run blast and Pitcher had three hits driving in two. Sheahan also contributed a hit.

On Tuesday, July 20, Shelburne came back facing elimination to battle nemesis SB at Schifilletti Park.  Conroy delivered a masterful performance on the hill shutting out SB 4-0 on eight strikeouts as SB managed just two hits. Conroy kept powerful SB hitters off balance with a toxic mixture of blistering fastballs and dancing knuckleballs. The game was scoreless through three innings. Ireland got the Shelburne rally started in the bottom of the fourth with a single, Pitcher reached on a walk and Sheahan reached on a bunt to load the bases. Third basemen Kent then came through in the clutch lining a 1-2 pitch down the leftfield line scoring two on the double. Kent not only scored on Supple's single up the middle he drove in the final run in the fifth on another single. Caswell and Conroy each added a hit to the cause.

On Thursday, July 22 Shelburne (8-1) faced off against SB (7-1) in the winner-take-all deciding game of the District I Tournament. Shelburne stunned SB in the top of the first as leadoff hitter Ryan singled to right and scored when Supple launched the first pitch he saw deep over the right-center field fences. Hesslink followed with a double and scored to stake Shelburne to a 3-0 lead. That would be all the cushion Shelburne would need as Supple no-hit SB on 11 strikeouts and was just one walk shy of a perfect game. SB was rendered scoreless as no ball left the infield off a SB bat. Shelburne padded its lead in the third on a single by Ireland, a walk to Pitcher and Thayer, a run-scoring sacrifice fly by Conroy followed by another two-run double by Mr. Double Clutch, Alex Kent. Shelburne rounded out the scoring on solo jacks by Conroy and Supple.

Shelburne advanced to the Vermont State Little League Tournament at Schifilletti Park and will play St. Albans, Barre, and Bennington.See story at right for an update on Game 1. A positive note: These same three teams were in the 9/10 state tournaments in 2008 from which Shelburne emerged undefeated.