With Labor Day about a week ahead summer recreational activity will be less common, but there will be a number of folks that will still enjoy being in and on the beautiful rivers of southeastern Vermont.

The West River Watershed Alliance (WRWA) is working to help protect, enhance and raise awareness of the environmental, cultural and economic health of the water, land and communities of southeastern Vermont watersheds including the West, Williams, Saxtons River and Whetstone Brook watersheds.

CHESTER - The Chester Pirates defeated the Brattleboro River Rats 9-1 in the rain on Sunday, August 22 to earn their eighth Connecticut River Valley Baseball League championship. Despite the wet conditions, only two errors were committed in the game.


2010 Chester Pirates: Front Row, L-R: Gary Parker, Scott Renfro, Scott Coursen, Gary Graham, Craig Mellish, Jamie Spence

Back Row, L-R: Jesse Lane, Todd Wells, Chuck Harriman, Scott Sargent, Doug Roberts

The Brattleboro River Rats used a perfect suicide squeeze to break a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning and went on to defeat the Putney Fossils 5-1 in Sunday's Connecticut River Valley Baseball League playoff game. Brattleboro's Marty Vallender and Putney's Travis Watson were locked in a pitcher's duel for most of the game. Vallender scattered seven hits over nine innings, allowing one unearned run while fanning six. Watson gave up seven hits over seven innings, struck out two and allowed only one earned run.

The Kornguth's 3rd Annual Soap Box Derby is up and rolling. WHEN: Next Sunday (August 22nd) at 12:00 WHERE: exit 1 industrial park. It's not too late to build your car.

For questions call Daniel 802.451.6165 or e-mail me at thekornguthssoapboxderby@gmail.com

Isn't it great that in southeastern Vermont we have such great rivers that provide enjoyable swimming holes on the hot summer days we have been having? Though it seems like the swimming holes and rivers are very clean, sometimes there are impacts that can have a negative effect on water quality of our beautiful rural rivers.

The West River Watershed Alliance (WRWA) is working to help protect, enhance and raise awareness of the environmental, cultural and economic health of the water, land and communities of southeastern Vermont watersheds including the West, Williams, Saxtons River and Whetstone Brook watersheds.

One of the main activities of WRWA is its volunteer water quality monitoring program, which has been active since 2003. A significant aspect of the water quality monitoring program is to sample and test several southeastern Vermont swimming holes and recreational sites for Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria levels.

The Putney Fossils will host the Brattleboro River Rats in the opening round of the 2010 Connecticut River Valley Baseball League playoffs this Sunday, August 15, at 11:00 AM. The game will be played at Dummerston School Field.

These two teams slugged it out four times during the regular season with every contest decided in the final inning. Come on out to see some exciting adult baseball and support your favorite team!

For more information, visit the CRVBL website at www.crvbl.org.

The Putney Fossils and Brattleboro River Rats have played each other four times in the 2010 Connecticut River Valley Baseball League season and every game has been decided in the final inning. Sunday, August 1 proved to be another nail-biter as Putney eked out a late 4-3 victory.

Brattleboro's Kenny Sloat confounded Putney batters for nearly the entire contest with his looping curves and ultra-slow changeups. Putney's Richard Bissell scattered ten hits in his complete game victory, but found ways to get himself out of several jams.

Local rivers provide refreshing swimming holes during summers in southeastern Vermont. Sometimes it is taken for granted that water that flowing in the rivers is pristine, but there are impacts that can have a negative effect on water quality of rural rivers.

The West River Watershed Alliance (WRWA) is working to help protect, enhance and raise awareness of the environmental, cultural and economic health of the water, land and communities of southeastern Vermont watersheds – including the West, Williams, Saxtons River and Whetstone Brook watersheds. One of the main activities of WRWA is its volunteer water quality monitoring program, which has been active since 2003. A significant aspect of the water quality monitoring program is to sample and test several southeastern Vermont swimming holes and recreational sites for Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria levels.

My brother is in town from Baltimore this month and we decided to go to see the River Rats play the Putney Fossils this weekend. Sadly, the River Rats did not win but we enjoyed it all the same. Chris grilled hot dogs for all. My brother Leo took pictures. Here is a selection of his better game shots for all to enjoy.

Here are a few more photos from the multiple Connecticut River Valley Baseball League games held this weekend at the Dummerston School Field.

The day started out hot, but became a bit more pleasant as clouds rolled overhead.

Brattleboro 8, Ludlow 2

DUMMERSTON - The Brattleboro River Rats notched their second straight win Sunday, July 25 with a convincing 8-2 victory over the Ludlow Gold. Winning pitcher Ken Sloat went the distance for the home team, scattering seven hits and two earned runs. Rob Eccleston went 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs and Greg Elbaum had two hits and two runs. Jason Spinner and Caleb Record made outstanding defensive plays for Brattleboro.

Michael Besserer outlasted Jonathan Kraiger in three tough sets, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, to win the Open Division of the Brattleboro Outing Club's Annual Singles Tennis tournament.

In the 3.5 Division, Paige Warren-Shriner triumphed over Malcolm Donaldson 6-2, 7-6 (2).

A field of 50 players competed over three days at the Outing Club courts on Cedar street in this ninth annual event.



Photo from left to right:

Jonathan Kraiger, Michael Besserer, Paige Warren-Shriner, Malcolm Donaldson

Chester 8, Brattleboro 4 (10 innings)

DUMMERSTON - Chester Pirate southpaw Jamie Spence pitched all 10 innings to pick up an extra-inning, 8-4 victory over the Brattleboro River Rats on Sunday, July 18. He allowed eight hits, three walks, and three earned runs while fanning 14.

Chuck Harriman had three hits for the Pirates, including the game-winning RBIs on a two-run double in the top of the tenth. Spence had 3 hits including two doubles to help his own cause, while Jesse Lane and Todd Wells had two hits and an RBI apiece.

BRATTLEBORO OUTING CLUB HOSTS ANNUAL TENNIS TOURNAMENT

The Brattleboro Outing Club, on Cedar street, will be hosting their Annual Singles Tennis Tournament this weekend, July 16, 17, & 18. Players from throughout New England will join area and club members competing in two divisions in what is sure to be a highly competitive event.

Over the past eight years this tournament has grown to become one of the most enjoyed and prestigious events of its kind in New England.

This years tournament returns past Open Draw champions Hunter Lathrop, S. Londonderry ('09), Ryan Cassidy, Rutland ('08), Damon Fitch, Burlington ('03), and '08 finalist and '09 semi-finalist Chesterfield's own Jacob Miller. The 3.5 Draw features returning champion Susan Madrigan ('06) and last year's semi-finalist Sehoon Ahn.

The West River Watershed Alliance (WRWA) is working to help protect, enhance and raise awareness of the environmental, cultural and economic health of the water, land and communities of southeastern Vermont watersheds – including the West, Williams, Saxtons River and Whetstone Brook watersheds.

One of the main program activities of WRWA is its volunteer water quality monitoring program, which has been active since 2003. A significant aspect of the water quality monitoring program is to sample and test local swimming holes and recreational sites for Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria levels.

See the accompanying chart {chart here} for the most recent E. coli test results and more information about what the values mean. Updates will usually be provided every 2 weeks through the summer.