MOUNT VERNON — The Mount Vernon 12U All-stars won the Ohio Little League District 5 tournament on Saturday at Phillips Park with an all-around stellar performance. The Jackets run-ruled Guernsey County 11-1 to secure the district championship and punch their ticket to the state tournament.
“We finally got the start we wanted,” said Mount Vernon head coach Corey Firebaugh. “Hopefully this will be a good springboard into what we’re going to be getting into a week from today in New Albany.”
While Theibert and his fielders kept Guernsey off the basepaths well throughout the game, the Jacket offense became locked in after Hayden Higgins blasted a ball to rightfield for a triple scoring two teammates. Guernsey County struggled pitching early in the game, switching pitchers early in the first inning. It wasn’t until the second inning they found their groove exchanging arms once again bringing in Blake Miller.
“We were definitely very limited with our pitching,” said Guernsey County head coach Karl Hoop. “When you’re down ... from the start, it’s very hard to come back and get any kind of momentum.”
In the first inning the Jackets got their way on base working walks at the plate, Camden Firebaugh and Zac Clow stole home on passed balls to gain a quick 2-0 lead. After Higgins’ hit, the Jackets extended their lead 7-0.
A solid second inning kept Mount Vernon’s momentum alive. Will Armstrong supplied the team with an RBI single and Clow managed to cross home on another passed ball. Defensively, Theibert fanned two batters as the Jackets extended their lead to 9-0 advancing to the third inning.
It wasn’t until the bottom of the third inning when Guernsey County began to show some fight at the plate. Morgan Rogers spoiled Theibert’s no-hitter with a gap shot to second base that scored Laine Wayble who reached base on a walk. The Jackets settled down and recuperated to hold Guernsey County scoreless the rest of the game.
Leading Guernsey County 10-1, Mount Vernon needed an additional run and to hold Guernsey on defense to win by run rule. Ethan Yost provided an RBI for Mount Vernon in the fourth to make the score 11-1 and Theibert worked two strikeouts on the mound defensively to secure the run-rule victory.
[ee]
