New York City's Kate Pallardy, 29, not only won the women's division, she also took top honors overall at Friday's 2014 Bill Powers Memorial Firecracker 4-Miler in Brattleboro.
Pallardy finished in 22 minutes, 56 seconds - 29 seconds ahead of Ryan Gilligan, 17, of Vernon.
Bob Parks, 44, of Brattleboro, was the male runner up at 23:35; Meghan Paugh, 29, of Williamsville, placed second among females in 26:43.
Soggy and humid conditions kept the field of competition much smaller than usual, with just 71 runners. Runners' ages ranged from 8 (Olivia Emerson of St. Johnsbury, who was the fastest under-12 female runner in 37:04) to 72 (Lee Emerson of Shrewsbury, who finished in 45:38).
Legion roundup
• Hartford pitcher Dylan Terino struggled with his control. Bellows Falls pitcher Mike Labeau did not. That, and timely hitting, gave Post 37 a 9-3 victory over Hartford on July 1.
Terino walked eight and gave up seven runs in his 4.2 innings of work to take loss. Doug Avellino and Labeau made Hartford pay for those walks as Avellino had a single and a double. Labeau hit a double and triple to put Post 37 in front to stay.
• In a showdown of the top two teams in the Southern Division June 30, Rutland's Skylar LaFerriere hit an RBI single in the eighth inning off Brattleboro pitcher Dan Richardson, giving Post 31 a 2-1 win over Post 5.
An RBI single by Noah Rizio in the first inning gave Rutland the lead. Brattleboro tied the game in the fourth when Cam Wright doubled and later scored on a Kassidi Ramirez single.
Richardson and Rutland starting pitcher Andy Kenosh dueled through the first six innings, but Post 5 chased Kenosh in the seventh. Brattleboro had the bases loaded with no outs, but reliever Ryan Belomo pitched out of the jam and preserved the 1-1 tie and set up the eighth-inning heroics.
Rutland was coming off a doubleheader sweep of Post 37 the day before. Post 31 took the first game, 13-6, and cruised in the nightcap, 9-3.
Although Bellows Falls took an early lead in the first inning of both games, Rutland was quick to take control. None of the six pitchers Post 37 sent to the mound had an answer for the Post 31 hitters.
In the first game, Avellino, Labeau, and Brady Illlingworth each had two hits for Bellows Falls. Avellino stayed hot in the second game with three hits and two runs scored.
BCC offers junior golf programs
• The Brattleboro Country Club has begun a series of junior golf programs to introduce younger golfers to the game.
The Friday programs, offered July 11 and 25, and Aug. 15, run from 9 to 10 a.m. for ages 6 to 10, and 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for ages 11 to 15. Sessions cover such essentials as rules and etiquette, skills, fitness, and nutrition. The cost is $20 per session.
BCC offers three-day golf camps July 22 through 24 and Aug. 12 through 14. It's limited to eight golfers per session, and is a bit more involved than the Friday programs. Camp costs $195 and runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information on both programs, contact Tom Borden at [email protected] or 603-682-4129.
Tour de Grace bike rally July 12
• Grace Cottage Hospital hosts its ninth annual Tour de Grace bicycle rally on Saturday, July 12.
The 17.7-mile, mostly downhill Tour de Grace raises money for patient care at Grace Cottage Hospital and is a fun and scenic rural ride. You'll begin at the Stratton Resort Base Lodge parking lot between 8 and 10 a.m. and finish at Grace Cottage on Route 35 in Townshend.
Buses are available to take riders and bikes up to Stratton for registration. Departure is from Grace Cottage Hospital between 8 and 8:30 a.m.
The route is well marked, maps are available at the starting point, and buses transport riders and bikes back to Stratton. Riders younger than 12 must ride with an adult; helmets are required for all riders. Mountain/hybrid bikes are highly recommended. Volunteers stationed along the route will provide free beverages and snacks
For a route description and registration and pledge forms, visit www.gracecottage.org/events. These forms will also be available the morning of the race at the Stratton Base Lodge parking lot. The entry fee is $25 until July 10, and $30 the day of the event.