Lady Mt’neers claim Big 8 East title after big week

By: 
Skylan Akins

The Mt. Vernon Lady Mt’neer softballers posing with their new championship hardware are front row, Jessah Anderson, Hadley Cornell and Josey McChesney; middle row, Kaylee Scrivner, Vickie Moore, Ally Burk, Alli Schubert, Payge Evans, Molly Daniels and Molly Burk; back row, Ruth Meyer, Ella Duwe, Madison Rinker, Ava Bellis, Isabel Cloud, Harley Daniels, Cheyenne Bieber, Madi Schubert and Rae Downing. (Photo submitted)

The Mt. Vernon softball team has been on a roll since a loss to Diamond last Saturday. Since the 13-6 defeat at the hands of the state-ranked Lady Wildcats, Mt. Vernon has rattled off seven straight wins and clinched the Big 8 East championship after pounding Catholic and East Newton, Saturday.
The week opened with a convincing 10-0 win over Marionville, Wednesday behind five scoreless innings from Harley Daniels in the circle. Then came five games in just three days as defending state champions Purdy came to town Thursday. Daniels led the way again with her second straight 3-3 day at the plate and the Lady Mt’neers won 11-2.
Friday and Saturday were the annual Big 8 East Festival, hosted at Mt. Vernon's Spirit of ’76 Park. Mt. Vernon opened with Hollister and Lamar on Friday. Hollister was the first victim for the Lady Mt’neers as a balanced attack at the plate—including with three fantastic innings from freshman Cheyenne Bieber at the plate—as Mt. Vernon took care of business 16-1. The second end of the doubleheader saw the 3-6 Lamar Lady Tigers come to town. Lamar stood little shot as the pitching of the Lady Mt’neers was elite once again with Daniels on the mound as she only allowed one hit in the 11-1 victory.
The Lady Mt’neers had a shot to clinch the Big 8 East title with two more wins last Saturday against Catholic and East Newton. The Lady Mt’neers offense exploded for 24 runs on 17 hits and accumulated 14 RBI's without striking out as Josey McChesney achieved the rare inside-the-park home run in the first inning en route to a 24-5 win over the Lady Irish. All that was left was one final game against East Newton, where spectators saw another dominating performance in the circle from Daniels striking out nine without giving up an earned run in a 9-3 win.
There was a plethora of Lady Mt’neers who stood out this week starting with Harley Daniels. Daniels hit .600 for the week with 10 RBIs, and seven doubles at the plate. In the circle she was just as dominant going 4-0 in four starts. She threw 22 innings striking out 25 batters only allowing two earned runs. Senior Hadley Cornell hit .444 with nine RBI's and a pair of triples to her name. Freshman Cheyenne Bieber hit .444 with five RBI's and was 2-0 in the circle, as well striking out 11 batters in just seven innings pitched. Josey McChesney had a great week going 9-19 with a double, two triples and a home run with five RBIs. Finally, sophomore Payge Evans went 13-23 with seven RBI's in a great week for her, as well.
The Lady Mt’neers move to 15-4 on the year and will try to get back on the yard Thursday at Buffalo after games Monday and Tuesday were postponed due to the rain.
 

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Lawrence County Record

312 S. Hickory St.
Mt. Vernon, MO, 65712
www.lawrencecountyrecord.com

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