By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
Diamond-Mt. Vernon has proven to be perhaps the premier matchup in the state the past few seasons and one that has played out numerous times.
2023 Class 2 state champion Mt. Vernon and 2022 Class 2 state champion Diamond faced off four times each of the past two seasons.
With the powerhouses possibly playing each other on five occasions this season, Diamond coach Kelsey Parrish hopes Mt. Vernon brings out the best in her team.
“We are both chasing to have the toughest schedule and when you do that, you end up in the same tournaments with the best teams,” Parrish said. “We are in the same three tournaments this year and even though we are on opposite pool sides we could very likely meet in the championship. It’s not completely ideal but it is a compliment to both programs. They make us better each time we play them.
“I have a lot of respect for Coach Schubert and his program, and I would love to see them on the other side of the state bracket,” she added. “I truly believe that our (district) game two years in a row was the state championship game and very likely could be again. But thanks to geography, it’s not in our cards.”
Diamond returns a good portion of its players who helped the Lady Wildcats go 27-10-1 and finish as Class 2 District 6 runner-up to Mt. Vernon a year ago.
Pitcher Caitlyn Suhrie is back, after posting monster numbers in the center circle and batter’s box last season. She posted a 15-9 W-L record and 2.52 ERA, with 220 strikeouts over 249 innings. Meanwhile, she batted .512, with 62 hits, 11 home runs and 53 RBIs.
“Caitlyn is super aggressive on the mound and at the plate,” Parrish said. “She wants to attack the batter from the start. She spins the ball well and mixes her speed. Offensively, she has a job in mind and is going to do whatever it takes to get that job done.
“That kid is continuously working,” she added. “I just saw the other day on her mom’s social media. She had a basketball game, then was in the cage afterward getting her cuts in. I would say Caitlyn doesn’t miss a week of pitching or cage work.”
Lauren Turner returns after she put together a 10-0 W-L record, before injuries cut short her season pitching. She continued to hit and batted .496 with eight homers and 40 RBIs.
“She took summer ball off to heal,” Parrish said. “This year, I see Lauren sharing the mound with Caitlyn and freshman Taelyn Reeder.”
Turner is at shortstop when not pitching.
“Lauren is another strong one offensively in our lineup,” Parrish said. “Last year with basically one arm, she hit over .400. She is disciplined and dangerous.”
Diamond has catcher Grace Frazier back, after she batted .486 and scored 49 runs a year ago.
“Grace does an exceptional job for us behind the plate as the orchestrator on the field,” Parrish said. “I give her a lot of credit to our pitching success and she’s a hard out on the basepaths.”
Diamond’s returning starters also include first baseman Talyn Daniels, who hit .321 last season.
“I feel blessed to have my entire infield returning minus our second baseman,” Parrish said. “We have a few underclassmen that will be fighting for a spot on the dirt and a few returners we could possibly move around.”
Other infielders include Kenzi Croo, Marissa Dejager and Taelyn Reeder,
Sara Roszell hit .341 last year and Aubrey Ball .327. They return as outfielders who could also play infield.
“Aubrey and Sara are very versatile that we could end up moving them into an infield role or keeping them in the outfield,” Parrish said.
Kabrie Parmley is another returning outfielder.
Parrish is optimistic Diamond can again be a big winner, but she isn’t taking for granted a prolonged post-season run.
“I feel like we have really good odds to be very successful,” she said. “But Southwest Missouri is dominant in this area and a lot of good teams will be taken out by each other. We are excited to get started and see what happens.”
