Lady Mt’neer win makes it four straight in rain shortened week

The Lady Mt’neers have now won their last four softball games and have taken nine of their last 10 games with yet another strong week as the season is winding down for the defending state champions. After defeating Strafford, 22-7, Monday night, they doubled down with mid-week wins against Clever before capping off the week against Ash Grove.
The week began Tuesday as the Lady Mt’neers hosted Clever. Cheyenne Bieber continued her fantastic season in the circle giving up just two earned runs and started by striking out the side to begin. The offense started quick with singles from Molly Daniels and an RBI-single from Rae Downing giving the Lady Mt’neers a 1-0 lead. Despite busy base paths, that was all they were able to manage. The second inning looked promising to begin as Lilly Burk hit a leadoff triple and was brought in thanks to a sac fly from Payge Evans to take a 2-0 lead after two innings. Clever bounced back with a five-run inning that saw a pair of Mt. Vernon errors haunt the Lady Mt’neers. The bats woke up for the Lady Mt’neers as Downing led off with a triple and scored on an error from Clever.
Bieber continued her impressive season in the box as well with a double to set up a two-run knock from Maddie Schubert to tie the game at five. Bieber put the Lady Mt’neers back in the driver’s seat in the fourth inning with a two-RBI double to take a 7-5 lead. The Schubert sisters singled, scoring two more runs. Mt. Vernon manufactured two more runs and took an 11-5 lead into the fifth inning. Mt. Vernon responded to two Clever runs in the top of the fifth with one in the bottom as Mt. Vernon cruised to a 12-9 victory.
Mt. Vernon concluded the week Wednesday in Ash Grove as the Lady Pirates looked to avenge a loss to the Lady Mt’neers earlier in the season. Three straight singles from Evans, Daniels and Downing, had the Lady Mt’neers cooking early in the game. Hali Stokes grounded out but was able to push Daniels across to score the first run of the game. Pitching owned the first third of the game as the 1-0 score held until the top of the third inning. Ally Burk and Payge Evans led the inning off with a pair of singles before Downing shot one to right field that plated both of them. Stokes continued the run with a sac fly to take a 4-0 lead. Mt. Vernon wouldn’t need it but Downing singled home Evans for a 5-0. Emmie Schubert struggled in the fifth inning, walking five runners as the Lady Pirates scored three in the sixth inning but was unable to take a lead as the Lady Mt’neers claimed the showdown 5-3.
Mt. Vernon improves to 23-8 on the year as the Lady Mt’neers eyes turn to Sarcoxie in the district tournament. The Lady Mt’neers earned the No. 2 seed where they will take on Sarcoxie on Thursday at 5 p.m. A win would set up a semifinal game against either East Newton or College Heights Monday at 4 p.m. The district championship game is set for Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.