The Putney Fossils were formed by Richard Bissell and Jim Austin in the mid-1990s to play as an opponent for the fledgling baseball program at Landmark College. The team played 8-10 games per year against Landmark and a pick-up team from the Brattleboro area until joining the Connecticut River Valley Baseball League (CRVBL) as one of the four founding members in 2002. The Fossils, who made it to the League Championship game in 2003 (losing to the Saxtons River Pirates), are always competitive and show up every Sunday ready to play ball! See SPONSOR/Supporter INFO below.
The 2011 Putney Fossils of the Connecticut River Valley Baseball League
Front Row L-R: David Guadalupe, Brian Benjamin, Greg Narleski, Steve Stanley, Keith Hazard, Joe LeBlanc Rear, L-R: Mike Koledo, Bruce O'Brien, Richard Bissell, Rocky Smith, Quinton Carr, Travis Watson, Sean O'Brien, Danny Lichtenfeld. Not pictured: Steve Kapral, Boober Frost
I operate a small woodworking shop in Putney, Vermont and have been designing and making furniture one piece at a time since 1982. Over the years I have developed a line of Shaker furniture, Mission furniture and Windsor chairs. In addition to my line of Shaker and Mission furniture I also do a considerable amount of custom furniture and built-ins ranging from minor changes to standard pieces to designing and building completely new designs. I hope you will take the time to explore my web site and feel free to contact me at rwbissell@myfairpoint.net if you have any questions or comments. Also, if you're ever in my corner of Vermont please stop in and visit my workshop and showroom.
WALPOLE, NH - The Ludlow Athletics notched their first win of the season against host Walpole Wild Blue on Sunday. Both starting pitchers struggled to find the zone. Ludlows starter, Nick Sheehan, put a lot of runners on base, but didn't give up a hit in his 2-2/3 innings.
Ludlow opened the game with five runs in the first as each of the first five batters crossed the plate. They then added a run in the 2nd on three hits by the top of the order making the score 6-0. Â
Walpole plated a run in the bottom half of the 2nd, then another two in the third cutting Ludlow's lead to 6-3. But in the top of the 4th, Ludlow broke the game open by scoring 7 runs on 6 hits.  Jack Durgin (4-for-4, 3 runs) started the inning off with a single, and later Justin Lewis (2 runs, 3 RBIs) and Phil Chimbolo (3 RBIs) each doubled in 2 runs effectively breaking the back of the Wild Blue.
Walpole's Doug Palmer (99) slides past the tag of Ludlow catcher Mark Graves. Photo courtesy Wayne Mac
Ludlow reliever Jamie Gallagher got the victory going 4-1/3, giving up 3 runs (2 earned), four walks, and striking out four. Ludlow's offense hammered seven doubles. Howie Paul (2 doubles, run, 3 RBIs) had a great day, while Zach Smith (3 runs), Nich Sheehan (RBI), and Ray Romero (run) all doubled. For Walpole, Gary Dennis (double, 3 runs), Chris Ballou (3 walks, 2 runs), Adam Kobeski (double, 3 walks, run, 2 RBIs), and Brian Pickering (2 walks, RBI) each had two hits.
Keene 7, Putney 6
DUMMERSTON - A 9th inning rally by the Putney Fossils fell just short and the Keene Black Dawgs remained undefeated with a 7-6 victory on Sunday, April 29.
Putney went up 1-0 in the top of the third inning when Keith Hazard scored on a Josh Coursen (2-for-3, double, run, RBI, 2 SB) RBI double. But Keene answered in a big way in the bottom of the inning. The Black Dawgs loaded the bases with a hit-batsman, a walk, and an outfield error. Then first baseman John Luopa (2-for-4, double, HR, 2 runs, 4 RBIs) hammered a grand-slam over the right field fence to put Keene on top 4-1.
Putney's Greg Narleski rips a double against Keene. Black Dawgs' catcher is Brandon Oldham. (Photo taken by Patricia Stanley)
The Fossils re-took the lead scoring four runs in the 6th sparked by an RBI double by Greg Narleski (2-for-4, double, run, RBI) and a 2-run single by Richard Bissell (2-for-4, double, SB, 3 RBIs). Things looked good for Putney until defensive troubles undid them in Keene's 3-run 8th. The Fossils scored one in the 9th and had two on with one out, but the game ended on a bizarre infield fly rule, tag-out double play.
Tim Santaw got the complete game victory for the Black Dawgs. In addition to Luopa, Santaw got good offensive support from Seth McClean who went 3-for-4 with a double. Right fielder Andrew Bedard made three great catches, including a diving grab of a line drive that looked like a sure basehit. Bissell took the tough loss for Putney, going the distance on the mound allowing only 3 earned runs on 9 hits and 1 walk while striking out eight. Fossils catcher Steve Stanley went 3-for-3, scoring twice and swiping two bases.
Chester 5, Brattleboro 1
CHESTER - Three Chester Pirates pitchers combined to no-hit the Brattleboro River Rats and take home a 5-1 victory on Sunday. Jamie Spence got the win going five innings and fanning 12. He was followed by Nick Wirkkala (3 IP, 6 K) and Doug Roberts who pitched the 9th. Spence helped his own cause at the plate going 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. Wirkkala, playing in the outfield, saved the no-no with an outstanding diving catch in the 9th inning.
Brattleboro starter Greg Elbaum took the loss, but pitched very well against the potent Chester line-up.
Newport 17, Saxtons River 0
SAXTONS RIVER - The Newport Polar Bears' bats exploded and carried them to their first-ever CRVBL victory, a 17-0 mauling of the Saxtons River Pirates. Newport southpaw Scott McNamara dominated on the mound allowing only two hits and four walks while fanning 15 in a complete game effort.
McNamara also led the offensive attack going 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs, and 3 RBIs. Mike Batista (3-for-4, 2 runs), Matt Maxham (2 hits, 2 runs, RBI), Sean Lantas (2 hits, 2 runs, RBI, 4 SB), and Anthony DiPaola (2 hits, run) also had big days at the plate.
This week's schedule features six games. On Friday, Walpole hosts Landmark College at 6:30 PM. On Saturday, Brattleboro visits Landmark College at 11:00 AM in Dummerston. Sunday's games in Dummerston are Ludlow at Brattleboro, 10:00 AM, and Saxtons River at Putney at 1:00 PM, while Walpole takes on Chester at 11:00 at GMUHS and Newport battles Claremont at Barnes Park in Claremont at 11:00.
While the Wild Blue goes through some growing pains with its bullpen, there's no question the fledgling team has some thunder in their bats.
When all was said and done, Walpole defeated the Putney Fossils 17-11 April 22 in a long eight-inning match as the weather changed and storm clouds rolled in.
Saturday's evening game under the lights was highlighted by a combined 15-run first inning...11 of them by Walpole. Two Wild Blue boys went yard in the bottom of the first including left fielder Chris Ballou who blasted a jaw-dropping +400-foot grand slam. Five batters later, right fielder Doug Palmer's bat woke up as he drilled a deep left-center three-run blast.
First baseman Blake Gowen upheld the team-high .778 batting average, going 3-for-5 with three singles and two RBIs. Ballou's grand slam bomb was complemented by three singles and a combined six RBIs. He crossed the plate three times.
Catcher Adam Kobeski had two RBIs and a double, second baseman Ryan Kohler belted a single and a double driving in two and shortstop Gary Dennis went 2-for-4 crossing the plate twice and bringing in two RBIs.
Palmer made a sprawling attempt for a foul ball in right field that left him with a welt across his forehead in the first inning. He followed the all-out defensive effort with the first-inning dinger and completed the game 3-for-4 with a single, double and 4 RBIs.
Garin Clough's first time on the hill for the Wild Blue was a solid effort. Clough struck out 12, walked eight and gave up two earned runs on five hits over seven innings. With a huge pitch count in the early-season game, Walpole put Dennis in for relief in the last inning. Dennis walked three, struck out two and gave up one hit during Putney's final at bat.
"Garin had a great game...we made some pitching changes late to start working some of our relievers," Dennis said after the game, adding that Saturday's game and next week's Sunday game are two in which the Wild Blue bullpen is thin. "But while we're getting pitching settled in, we're confident in knowing we've got some crazy bats on the Wild Blue."
With the late game change last week from Sunday to Saturday night due to the forecast of a cold, rainy Sunday, Walpole and Putney still garnered about 65 fans for the game.
With incoming storms threatening, the real thunder and lightning happened on the field in Walpole on Saturday, April 21.
Pitchers for both teams struggled mightily in this one. Putney jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first, but all that and more was wiped away by an offensive explosion in the bottom of the inning. Walpole's Chris Ballou (3-for-5, HR, 3 runs, 6 RBIs) blasted a 400-plus-foot grand slam home run and Doug Palmer (3-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 runs, 4 RBIs) added a very deep 3-run shot to left-center five batters later for seven of the eleven runs scored by the home team in the first at-bat.
Chris Ballou about to blast a 400-plus foot Grand Slam
Danny Lichtenfeld went to the mound in relief for Putney and helped slow the bleeding. Walpole scored six more runs, but only two were earned as the Wild Blue took advantage of Fossils miscures.
Walpole first baseman Blake Gowen went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Catcher Adam Kobeski had a double and two RBIs, second baseman Ryan Kohler belted a single and a double, driving in two and shortstop Gary Dennis went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Dennis, who manages the Wild Blue, was pleased with the team's offensive performance: "While we're getting pitching settled in, we're confident in knowing we've got some crazy bats on the Wild Blue."
Putney only had six hits, but patience at the plate resulted in 14 walks and eleven runs. Shortstop Greg Narleski got four free trips (three walks and one hit by pitch), stole a base and scored twice. Steve Stanley, Sean O'Brien, Dave Guadalupe, and Quinton Carr drove in two runs each.
Claremont 8, Brattleboro 1
DUMMERSTON - If last week was a perfect day to play baseball, Sunday, April 22 was a perfect to be watching football. The Brattleboro River Rats opened their season by hosting the Claremont Cardinals on a cold and blustery morning in Dummerston.
Claremont's Josh Duford wasted no time setting the aggressive tone by singling on the first pitch, stealing second on the next pitch. Bob Myers drove him in with a sacrifice fly. In the second inning, three singles and a error at double gave the Cards three more runs.
Meanwhile, Mike Wells dominated on the mound for the visitors. He was perfect through 4 innings, before giving up a single to open the 5th. After a strikeout, that runner was erased on a 4-6-3 double play. In the bottom half of the 6th, Wells helped his own cause by ripping a home run to right-center field.
Claremont's Mike Wells firing against Brattleboro. Wells pitched a complete game, 2-hit shutout. Photo courtesy Wayne Mac
Brattleboro took advantage of two Claremont errors on one play and scored a run in the bottom of the 6th, but that's as close as they would get. That was all the offense Wells would need as he would end the game with a 2 hit complete game.
Miracle?? Gerry Thompson steals second against Brattleboro, his first swipe since 2006.
Other Claremont offensive standouts were Nate Duford and Scott Christian (2 hits), Paul Felix (2 runs), Steve Condon (1 hit, 2 walks) and Gerry Thompson (first SB since 2006). Caleb Record and Dan Trudeau got the only hits for Brattleboro.
Keene 6, Newport 5
DUMMERSTON - The Keene Black Dawgs and Newport Polar Bears battled back and forth all game long before the Dawgs limped away with a 6-5 victory. The lead changed four times before Keene scored the winning run in the bottom of the final frame.
Keene catcher Dave Fenuccio went 3-for-4 with a double and drove in the game winning run. Marty Griffin had two hits, while Matt Gilbert and Seth McLean played outstanding defense for the victors.
Newport played very well again and came up just short. Shortstop Mike Saindon (stolen base) and catcher Mike Batista (double, run) had two hits apiece. Matt Maxham and Andrew Davis both doubled.
This week's games: Saturday - Putney at Landmark, 11 AM in Dummerston. Sunday (all games start at 11:00 AM) - Brattleboro at Chester, Putney at Keene (Dummerston), Newport at Saxtons River (Vermont Academy), and Ludlow at Walpole.
CLAREMONT - On a perfect day for baseball, the fans in Claremont were treated to an Opening Day game with a playoff atmosphere between the Claremont Cardinals and the Chester CRUSH. Both teams had their championship hopes ended in 2011 with losses to Saxtons River. The slate has been wiped clean and the 2012 rush for the Cup begins again.
Bob Myers faced off against Nick Wirkkala (6 IP, 5 hits, 9 Ks) and the game unfolded as a classic pitchers' duel.
Wirkalla pitches to Wells
With one out in the first and a runner on third, the CRUSH was threatening. A hard hit ball to short should have scored the run, but Scott Christian made a great throw to the plate to cut down the runner. Claremont got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning. Josh Duford hit a drive to left that hit off the left fielder's glove and got behind him. The relay throw was offline and that allowed Josh to race around for a play at the plate. He slid wide and got under Eric Anderson's tag for a 1-0 lead. The next two batters reached and it looked like Claremont would break it open. Gerry Thompson made a bid for extra bases with a drive to left center, but Scott Renfro laid out and made an amazing diving grab to end the threat and the inning.
Renfro robs Thompson
The score stayed 1-0 through the 6th inning, until Jamie Spence (2 hits, double, RBI) hooked a double down the line to right. He plated Chuck Harriman to tie the score. In the 7th, Chester struck again on a run scoring triple by Joe Cavacas, for a 2-1 lead. Cavacas got hung up on a Scott Sargent comebacker and ended up getting tagged out at third in a rundown. That started a 1-5-2-4 double play as John Grainger gunned down Sargent trying to sneak into scoring position.
Renfro came on to pitch for Chester and quickly blew through the 7th and 8th inning. Claremont's Myers struck out the last two CRUSH he faced to end the top of the ninth. The bottom half opened with a long at bat by Fred Girard, who worked a leadoff walk. Josh Duford then dumped a single behind second base to move the runner up. Grainger bunted the runners over to second and third. Bob Myers then hit a single to left center. Girard and Duford raced home to score on the walk-off hit.
Josh Duford scores the winning run
The final was a 3-2 win for Claremont, in an extremely well-played game. Even though this was the first game of the year, it will be tough to imagine another game topping this one. Next week, Claremont will travel to face Brattleboro as the River Rats open their season.
Saxtons River Pirates 13, Wapole Wild Blue 10
WALPOLE - On their first excursion into a game situation, the Walpole Wild Blue held their own through most of a long 7-inning game at Walpole Fields Sunday, but lost the cat-and-mouse runs game to the Saxtons River Pirates 13-10.
Both teams hit exceptionally well and, save one blowout inning where the Pirates tacked on 7 runs, the game was competitive and a thrill to watch for the 200-plus fans who made it out to the field.
Brian Pickering started the game on the hill for the Wild Blue and went three innings giving up five earned runs and six hits. Pickering also stroked a single to help out his cause. The remainder of the game was thrown by Dave Read who gave up three unearned runs on six hits and struck out four.
Hitting for the Wild Blue was strong on their first time out. First baseman Blake Gowen went 4-for-4 with two singles and two doubles, crossed the plate twice and driving in one. Left fielder Chris Ballou also is batting 1.000 going 3-for-3 with two singles, a double and a sacrifice fly bringing in 3 RBI. Shortstop Gary Dennis went 3-for-4 hitting three singles and driving in two runs and crossing the plate three times. Catcher Adam Kobeski also went 3-for-4 with two singles and a bomb of a double that went to deep center.
Second baseman Frank Brown and centerfielder Mike Snide each added singles to the offense -- Brown with one and Snide with two. Snide also had three RBI.
In the field, Kobeski made some circus catches on behind-the-plate pop-ups while third baseman Erik Baker stretched out for two diving catches for put-outs.
"These guys, for their first time in a game situation together, put on a show for the tremendous crowd we had at the new Walpole Fields," Dennis said after the game. "A lot of our guys were hitting the ball right on the button…I can’t tell you how much fun we had in the dugout cheering each other on."
Standouts for Saxtons River included Andrew Robbins who went 3-for-4 with a double, 3 runs and 3 RBIs, Matt Therrian (2 hits, 2 runs), Derrick Smidutz (double, run, 3 RBIs), and Toby Miller (double).
The Wild Blue faces the Putney Fossils on Sunday, April 22 at the Walpole Fields at 11 a.m. Keene Dawgs 6, Ludlow A's 4
DUMMERSTON - Ludlow broke the ice to score the first league run of 2012 in the first inning. The lead switched hands briefly in the fourth inning when Keene put two runs on the board after hits by John Luopa (1-for-1, 2R, BB) and Brandon Oldham (2-for-2, R, BB), who eventually came in to score. Ludlow followed with two runs of their own in the top of the fifth after consecutive hits by Justin Lewis and Howie Paul. Phil Chimbolo put the ball in play to get the initial RBI, while Ludlow scored their second run of the inning on a subsequent error on the same play.
Howie Paul lays down a bunt single
In the bottom of the fifth Keene took the lead for good with three runs on four consecutive singles by Bruce Summers, Sean Darwin, Rick Hermanson, and Nate Wood making the score 5-3. Keene added another run in the sixth inning to make it 6-3. Ludlow got some baserunners on in the seventh to threaten, but only managed to get one across as Johnny Durgin (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBIs) knocked in Zach Smith (2-for-3, R).
Howie Paul started on the mound for the Ludlow A's, but had control issues and a sore arm and left with 2-outs in the 2nd inning. John "Jack" Durgin took the loss for the A's giving up 6-runs, (4 earned) in 6-2/3 hard-fought innings. Keene pitchers Tim Santaw and John Luopa combined for 15 strikeouts, including five consecutive at one point by Santaw.
Tim Santaw
Putney Fossils 4, Newport Polar Bears 2
DUMMERSTON - Putney hurler Richard Bissell went the distance to get a hard-fought 4-2 victory over the Newport Polar Bears. The crafty veteran scattered five hits and two runs over nine innings, striking out four and at one point inducing three consecutive pop-outs to catcher Joe LeBlanc. The Polar Bears played flawless defense in their first ever CRVBL game.
Newport's Drew Davis
Putney scored in the first when Greg Narleski drove in Danny Lichtenfeld with an RBI double. Neither team scored again until Putney pushed across three in the seventh, two on an RBI single by LeBlanc (2-for-3, 2 RBIs). Newport battled back in the top of the 8th. Bob Bates hammered a double to left, then scored on a Scott McNamara RBI single. Eric Lemay rapped Newport's third consecutive hit driving in McNamara before Bissell stopped the bleeding.
CLAREMONT - The 6th-seeded Putney Fossils ambushed the top-seeded Claremont Cardinals 7-0 in their playoff opener. Putney's Danny Lichtenfeld was in total command of the game from the opening pitch to the final out in the 7th inning. The hard-throwing righty allowed only three hits, walked five and fanned seven to earn the complete-game shutout victory. Lichtenfeld also helped himself at the plate with two hits and two stolen bases.
Danny Lichtenfeld brings heat v Claremont
The Fossils offense pounded out 13 hits - their best showing of the season. Brian Benjamin (run, two RBIs) and Dave Guadalupe (run, RBI) led the way with two hits, while Steve Kapral (2 runs) and Rocky Smith ripped deep doubles.
Richard Bissell Fine Woodworking: 
