By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Mt. Vernon softball had another successful season under head coach Matt Schubert.
The Mountaineers finished with an 18-6 record, falling to College Heights Christian in the district title game.
As he enters his ninth season at the helm, Schubert believes unexpected challenges from Covid forced his younger players to develop faster in order to step into bigger roles.
“The emergence of some of our sophomores and freshmen was a big key to the success we had last year,” Schubert said. “We only had one returning starter and one part time starter from the 2019 season. Because of the ongoing pandemic we had lower numbers than normal, which was also a concern.”
Graduates Kenley Weaver and Tasha Collins departed the team. Both received all-district honors as seniors.
“Both players played key leadership roles as they were two of the three with the most varsity experience,” Schubert said. “They were steady contributors who showed up everyday and did what we expected them to do both on and off the field. They were both great teammates and the kind of kids you need to have successful teams.”
A quartet of senior leaders will help lead Mt. Vernon this year in Hadley Cornell, Josey McChesney, Jessah Anderson and Kylee Stockton.
Cornell, an all-conference, all-district and all-region infielder, hit .412 last season with 26 runs batted in and 29 runs.
“This will be Hadley’s third year starting, making her the most experienced player we have – she has 56 career starts,” Schubert said. “She has great quickness and is smooth fielding the ball. Has a quick release on her throw and is steady in the field.”
McChesney, a center fielder, received all-conference, all-district, all-region and all-state honors in 2021. She hit .481 with 3 home runes, 27 runs batted in and 25 runs.
“Josey is our quiet leader, leading by example,” Schubert said. “She works extremely hard in our offseason program, especially the weight room. Is a five-tool player with good speed, power, average, arm strength and is incredibly smart. Starting to become a more vocal leader as well.”
Anderson, a second baseman, returns to the team from injury.
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“Jessah missed part of last year with a knee injury,” Schubert said. “She’s a sure-handed fielder and a good bunter. Also a good baserunner.”
Stockton will once again play left field for the ‘Neers.
“Kylee is a solid outfielder with a good arm and sells out to make plays,” Shubert said. “She has some speed and runs the bases well.”
A pair of juniors also return to the lineup in Allie Schubert and Harley Daniels.
Allie Schubert, an infielder, hit .250 last season with 10 runs batted in. She received all-conference honors.
“Allie was the starting third baseman last year, but will probably move to first this year,” Coach Schubert said. “She is a very good defensive player who is the most situationally aware player we have. Showed flashes of power last year and a solid middle of the order presence. Is showing signs of being a vocal leader on the infield.”
Daniels returns to the circle as the team’s primary pitcher. She hit .373 with 1 home run and 28 runs batted in. In the circle, she posted a record of 17-3-1 and was named the Big 8 Conference Pitcher of the Year, along with garnering all-district and all-region honors.
“Harley is our ace in the circle,” Coach Schubert said. “She had 226 Ks in 124 innings pitched. Continues to improve her control and can be dominant. At the plate, Harley has power to all fields.”
Sophomores Payge Evans, Alley Burk and Molly Burk round out Mt. Vernon’s returning core.
Evans, an outfielder and second baseman, hit .453 with 10 runs batted in, 25 runs and 11 stolen bases. She received all-conference, all-district and all-region honors as a freshman.
“Payge is a slapper who can run,” Coach Schubert said. “She finished the year as the leadoff hitter. Has worked on adding power to her slapping ability. In the outfield she uses her speed to cover some ground and has an above average arm. Understanding of the game has improved as well.”
Ally Burk returns as the team’s right fielder.
“Ally has good range in the outfield with a good arm,” Schubert said. “She shows some pop at the plate and can really run the bases well.”
Molly Burk, an outfielder, was primarily a courtesy runner last season.
“Last year Molly was our top pinch runner,” Coach Schubert said. “Molly has great speed and is a great situational baserunner who gives us the ability to put additional pressure on the defense.”
The ‘Neers also welcome a quartet of newcomers to the varsity roster in freshmen Rae Downing, Molly Daniels, Ava Bellis and Cheyenne Bieber.
“All four players had success this summer,” Schubert said. “Each has plenty of travel softball experience and made quick adjustments to the competition this summer. Big key for all four of them will be on how consistent they can become on a day to day basis.”
Mt. Vernon’s postseason aspirations will begin in the circle, with Daniels again expected to anchor an emerging staff of newcomers in Bellis and Bieber.
“We have a returning ace in Harley Daniels,” Coach Schubert said. “She will carry the load in the circle and can be a dominant starter. We have two freshmen – Ava Bellis and Cheyenne Bieber – that are also going to be able to help take some innings so that Harley can be fresh at the end of the year. We need to limit our free passes and stay out of the middle of the plate. If we can do those two things, we will be very successful.”
At the plate, Mt. Vernon’s talent and experience should provide a significant boost, as well.
“We are going to have a very deep lineup that will feature both speed and power,” Coach Schubert said. “I think whatever combination of players we settle on will be able to take good at-bats and any part of the lineup will be a tough out for any opposing pitcher. We have many girls who can run as we feature up to three girls who can slap, but we have the middle of the lineup who will have gap to gap power.”
Above all else, Coach Schubert believes his team’s overall depth could play a significant role as the season progresses.
“With the quality of teams in the area this year, we play a tough schedule and we can’t have a bad day and expect to compete very well,” Coach Schubert said. “In the spring there are so many things that conflict with our season that we will have players out for various other activities and the always potential quarantine. Our top subs will have to be prepared to play each day and have to be able to execute against the tough pitchers we are going to see.”
Mt. Vernon will open its regular season March 18 in the Sarcoxie Tournament.
With eight wins in 2022, the ‘Neers will reach 150 victories in only nine seasons of competition.
