Mt. Vernon softball has a short history, but in those brief few years the Lady Mt'neers have accrued more than its share of success, including a Final Four appearance two seasons ago and a district championship loss to Marionville last season. Head coach Matt Schubert, who has amassed an impressive 48-21 record at Mt. Vernon in three years, sees no reason this season won't end with the same kind of success.
"Losing in the district final was a disappointing end to last season," Schubert said, "and these players have worked hard in the off-season to improve on that finish."
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A number of first were accomplished last season, as well, with two players, junior Morgan Hull and senior Callie Christiansen earning 1st Team All-State honors, as well as one graduate, Chelsea Snyder, signing to play college softbal (Fort Scott Community College).
For the spring 2016 season, Mt. Vernon returns seven starters, including seniors Maddi Brown, Kaitlyn Foulk, Whitney Wiehe and Christiansen.
Brown, who recently signed to continue her career at Crowder College, pitched 127 innings as a junior, striking out 106 batters and picking up 14 of Mt. Vernon's 19 on the season. She also led the green and white in runs scored with 46.
Foulk, the team's third baseman, had 12 doubles for the Lady Mt'neers, while Christiansen, who plays left field, added seven triples.
Three junior starters are back for Mt. Vernon. They include Mary Spencer, Hull and Hailea Schubert. Spencer is Mt. Vernon's second baseman and only struck out twice during the entire season in 2015. Hull, who plays first base and pitches, hit at a .477 clip with 42 base hits to lead the Lady Mt'neers as a junior. She also has the best fielding percentage of all Mt. Vernon team members with a .993 while manning the first base bag. Schubert is the team's returning catcher.
Coach Schubert also named juniors Destiny Krempges and Emma Andrews, as well as sophomores Kendra Foulk and McKenna Hagerman as players who will be seeing quality varsity time this season.
So hopes are high for Mt. Vernon's fourth year of softball, as all seven returning starters have been starters since their first day in the program.
"We have a lot of experience and we have a very tough schedule," Schubert said. "That will hep prepare us for our goal of reaching the state Final Four."
After tasting success, this group want nothing less than more and there is no reason to believe this group of athletes won't feast on many wins in 2016.
The Lady Mt'neers open the season Saturday, March 19, in the always tough Marionville Invitational Tournament.
