By Chris Parker
Mt. Vernon softball is back in the state title game for the first time since 2019 after using a 13-run third inning to run away from Fair Grove 13-2 in the Class 2 state semifinals.
Mt. Vernon managed to put just two runners on base in the first two innings while Fair Grove pushed across a run in the first and the third to take a 2-0 lead.
There was zero panic in the dugout for Mt. Vernon.
“We know that as long as we have at-bats left that we don’t need to panic. Panic doesn’t help us at all. They continue to lock in and they have done it great the last two months,” Mt. Vernon head coach Matt Schubert said. “There has been no panic in any game whatsoever. They continue to battle, and they did a great job that inning.”
In the third inning, Mt. Vernon exploded to send 18 to the plate with 13 of those at-bats coming with two outs. The Mountaineers jumped on pitches early in counts often.
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“We have gone over what pitch do I hit best, not the one I like the best, but the one I hit the best. We look for that until we get two strikes. They have really taken to that the past three weeks especially,” Schubert said.
When the dust settled from the bottom of the third inning, Mt. Vernon carried a commanding 13-2 lead handing the ball back to star pitcher Harley Daniels. Fair Grove got one base runner in each of the final two innings, but no more runs as Mt. Vernon completed the win in five innings.
Mt. Vernon will face West County in the Class 2 state title game.
“Those were my exact words were ‘one more’,” Schubert said. “We have seen West County and know that they have good lineup and some decent pitching. They play well. We are going to prepare like we always have one game at a time, one at-bat at a time and one pitch at a time.”
Mt. Vernon beat West County 11-1 in a regular-season matchup on Apr. 1. The Mountaineers will face West County at 1:15 pm on Tuesday at Killian Sports Complex in Springfield.
