By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
MT. VERNON – Diamond took another step in defense of its 2024 Class 2 softball state title Tuesday afternoon.
The Class 2 No. 3 Wildcats (26-7) downed No. 4 Mt. Vernon 9-2 in the District 6 championship.
The two rivals met three times during the regular season, with Diamond claiming narrow victories in each game (8-7, 9-4, 14-11).
For Diamond head coach Kelsey Parrish, the game proved to be yet another huge challenge on the team’s quest for another final four berth.
“They’re a really, really good ball team,” Parrish said of Mt. Vernon. “I hate that it comes down to the district championship every year between us two, but they give us a good game every year, and you never know which way it’s going to go.”
Diamond pitcher Taelyn Reeder gave up two runs on three hits in the victory.
The sophomore right-hander also notched nine strikeouts, thanks to an effective combo of pitches featuring both a rise ball and curve.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
“At this point, I kind of know what (Mt. Vernon) can and can’t hit,” Reeder said. “So, I just kind of throw it where I know that they can’t hit it or, at least, where I can get an out.”
Reeder was limited during the regular season due to injury, and Parrish chose to use her sparingly in previous matchups with the Mountaineers.
“So we know early on, we tried to save Tae, and so I don’t think she pitched very many innings the first three games against them,” Parrish said. “Obviously, we knew that this was going to be the end result, and we were preparing for that. But every time we play Mount Vernon, both teams come to play and want the win. And so it just creates a good ball game.”
Reeder not only was solid in the circle for the Wildcats, she got the team off to a fast start at the plate, as well.
After a first inning single scored both Lauren Turner and Aubrey Ball, Reeder got it going again in the third.
A double to left-center field scored Ball once again and led to a four-run inning for the Wildcats.
Down 6-0, Mt. Vernon was able to rally in the fourth following back-to-back doubles from Cheyenne Bieber and Rae Downing. Downing later scored from third on a stolen base.
Diamond wasted little time responding to the ‘Neer rally.
In the bottom of the inning, the top of the order paid off once again, as Anna Roszell, Turner and Ball each reached base and scored a trio of insurance runs to seal the win.
For Mount Vernon and head coach Matt Schubert, things didn’t quite go according to plan; however, the examples set by the senior group will have a lasting impact down the line with future classes.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE GAME
“(Diamond) was just better than us today, and there’s nothing – I don’t think – that we could have done differently that would have led to different outcomes,” Schubert said. “I thought we played pretty good. We just didn’t have enough today.
“There’s not a lot I have to do with this group. I know they’re always going to battle. They have a lot of pride, and they’re just really good players. So, as a coach, it’s fun to have that, and it’s a great example for younger kids coming into our program.”
Mt. Vernon ends its season at 23-11.
Next up for Diamond is a May 20 quarterfinal matchup against either Clever or Springfield Catholic.
Class 2, District 6 Championship FInal: Diamond – 9, Mt. Vernon – 2
MT VERNON 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 | 2 3 2
DIAMOND 2 0 4 3 0 0 X | 9 10 0
RBI
Mt. Vernon – 1 (Downing)
Diamond – 9 (Reeder – 3, Ball – 2, Roszell – 2, Crook, Ingle)
HITS
Mt. Vernon – 3 (Daniels, Bieber, Downing)
Diamond – 10 (Ball- 3, Reeder – 2, Turner – 2, Ingle, Roszell, Parmley)
