By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Mt. Vernon softball and longtime head coach Matt Schubert enjoyed yet another successful campaign in 2025.
The Mountaineers finished with a 23-11 record, falling to Diamond in the district championship.
“The 2025 season marked the end of some historical careers with the seniors who graduated and was the last of the starters from the 2023 state championship team. The seniors compiled a 123-28 career record and left their mark all over the program’s record book and in the state record book.”
Heading into his 13th season, Schubert will look to field replacements for a talented class of graduates including a trio of all-state honorees.
Fortunately for Mt. Vernon, he won’t have to look past his own front door, as a fourth all-state honoree returns to the lineup in Emmie Schubert.
A junior pitcher, Emmie Schubert compiled a 16-10 record last season with 155 strikeouts and a 1.99 ERA. At the plate, she hit .402 with 3 home runs, 38 RBI and 3 stolen bases.
“Emmie made a huge jump from her freshman year hitting .160 pts higher than her freshman year,” Coach Schubert said. “She also had huge increases in all stats. She took over as the No. 1 option in the circle and increased her strike out total while cutting her walk total in half. She tied the school record for strikeouts in a game when she struck out 15 in a shutout win over Lamar. Will see time at a corner infield position when not pitching. We look for her to continue to improve and help the seniors provide leadership from the circle.”
She is joined by fellow returnees Lilly Burk, Mya Bray, Jocelyn Liss, Mary Fields and AJ Shipman.
Burk, a senior all-conference and all-district infielder, hit .390 as a junior with 21 RBI and 10 stolen bases.
Coach Schubert on Burk: “Lilly started at second base last year. She looks to return to the spot this season but could slide over to shortstop. Was a good presence in the bottom half of the lineup with a very productive season raising her batting average over 120 pts from the year before. We look for continued improvement from her and a probable move to the top of the lineup.”
Bray, a senior outfielder, hit .103 last season with 10 RBI and 1 stolen base.
Coach Schubert on Bray: “Part time starter last year in the outfield and at DP, who had productive at bats with runs batted in but little luck finding the outfield grass. Mya is also a good bunter and will slot in somewhere in the bottom half of the lineup.”
Liss, a junior all-district outfielder, hit .316 last season with 1 home run, 21 RBI and 6 stolen bases.
Coach Schubert on Liss: “Started in left field but missed time in the middle of the season to injury. Left-handed hitter who has some power to all fields and has good plate discipline. Will be a middle-of-the-order option. Will move to first base this season with some possible time in the outfield.”
Fields, a junior outfielder, hit .273 as a sophomore with 7 RBI and 6 stolen bases.
Coach Schubert on Fields: “Began starting as the year progressed. Has great speed and looks to take over in center field. Is a bunter and does a nice job running the bases. We want to continue to see improvement at the plate from Mary but she had a great summer hitting leadoff or in the second spot in the order.”
Shipman, a sophomore third baseman, hit .161 as a freshman with 3 RBI and 7 stolen bases.
Coach Schubert on Shipman: “AJ was mainly used as a flex player and played third base when Emmie pitched. She will look to an expanded role this year, possibly sliding over to short or second and being a slapper threat at the bottom of the order. We look to see her use her great speed on defense and at the plate.”
Coach Schubert will also look to a host of varsity newcomers to step in and make an impact on the lineup this season in Adi Williams, Vanessa Rutherford, Elli Eddington, Hailey Stewart and Lisa Stewart.
“We had some good performances this summer from this group, including a large freshman class that has shown a lot of promise,” Coach Schubert said. “Rutherford and Eddington will have to become a second option in the circle when we need it. Hailey Stewart looks to take over the catcher position and has a plus arm and good defensive skills. Lisa Stewart will be a player that will work her way into a role somewhere with how hard she works. Adi Williams has had a good offseason after battling a back injury last year.”
After losing a deep and talented class of graduates, Mt. Vernon’s lineup will be a work in progress early on as players adjust to new roles and the varsity game.
“With such large graduation losses, we are looking at a little bit of a reset,” Coach Schubert said. “We have some talented players returning but many new faces who will bring energy and desire to fill the spots of the great players we lost.”
One area where the ‘Neers will not be lacking in experience will be the circle, as ace Emmie Schubert, once again, will look to keep opposing batters off balance.
“Our best returning strength is having an all-state pitcher return in the circle – all great teams start with great pitchers,” Coach Schubert said. “It is a blessing to return Emmie in the circle, where we know we can rely on her ability to keep us in games. We must limit walks and find a defensive alignment that will be solid behind her. We will work on developing other options in Vanessa and Elli to take some of the load off of Emmie and keep her fresh for districts.”
At the plate, Mt. Vernon will look to its returning starters to set the tone and help inexperienced hitters adjust to varsity pitching.
“We will have several new faces to the lineup so we will really have to rely on the trio of Lilly, Emmie and Jocelyn to carry us until the newcomers find their footing,” Coach Schubert said. “I think it has a chance to be a lineup that is going to have quite a bit of speed, and we will try to gameplan around that to help maximize our chances to score runs.”
While the ‘Neers will remain competitive with Emmie Schubert in the circle, postseason hopes rely on players not only stepping into new roles but thriving within them.
“We have a lot of new young faces that will be filling roles,” Coach Schubert said. “We have to prepare them in practice and learn as the season progresses the rigors of playing a varsity level schedule. In the last few years we had experienced lineups that had great versatility. We will be looking for an identity this year with all the changes we have to our lineup.”
Following a March 16 jamboree at Marionville, Mt. Vernon opens its season March 19 at home against Forsyth.
