Anderson’s first home-run sends Mt. Vernon to softball Final Four

Mt. Vernon junior Kassidy Anderson picked an ideal time for her first home-run of the season, as she crushed one over the left-field fence in the seventh inning of the spring state quarterfinal game at Purdy Thursday, May 9, to give the Lady Mt’neers a 2-0 win and a trip to the Final Four this weekend.
The Lady  Mt’neers were last in the state championships three years ago and this marks the third time in a seven-year program.
The entire contest was a pitcher’s duel between Mt. Vernon’s Katlyn Kotlarz and Purdy’s Lauren Schallert. Neither pitcher had given up any runs through the first six innings and were both on cruise control. That was, until Anderson cleared the fence with a runner on first base to put Mt. Vernon up 2-0.
Kotlarz struck out nine Purdy batters in the game, scattering five hits, to get the big win for the Lady Mt’neers.
Mt. Vernon will face Kennett in the state semifinals on Friday, May 17, at Killian Softball Complex in Springfield. Game time is set for 5 p.m.