Somehow, despite COVID-19, the Yellow Jackets baseball team played all of its scheduled games last season.
This year's strength of schedule makes that prospect even more daunting.
That, however, is the price Mount Vernon pays for playing in the tough Ohio Cardinal Conference.
"We have to play a tough nonconference schedule in order to have some respect in the Central District," coach Nate Hunt said. "The goal for this season is to win the OCC and continue to improve every day and be as prepared as we can for the tournament.”
Hunt’s coaching philosophy is modeled after his high school coach, Dave Klontz.
“He is a Hall of Fame coach who taught me not only the game of baseball, but the life lessons that baseball teaches you along the way," Hunt said. "There is a lot of adversity to the game of baseball, just like in life. The strategies and skills that help you overcome these adversities take you a long way. We preach a ‘this pitch’ mentality and only concentrate on what you control.”
The coach played four years at Heath High School under Klontz. Hunt won district championships in 2010 and 2011 at Heath and then continued his career, playing for three years at Muskingum University for Gregg Thompson. Hunt was injured his senior year and began student teaching.
“In my senior year, I was fortunate enough to start my coaching career at Muskingum University as an undergraduate assistant. After college, my first job right out of college was at Mount Vernon High School, and I have been here ever since,” he said.
Hunt said the saying on the back of the team's practice shirts this year is ‘Team 73.’ This means that this is the 73rd team in Mount Vernon baseball history. Most of the history that this program has is because of Doug Savage.
"He made the standard of what it means to play ‘Mount Vernon baseball,’" Hunt said. "I feel it's important to cherish and value coaches like Doug, which is why I chose to retire his number (1) from the program last year. The history that I want to make is to make Mount Vernon baseball, year after year, a respected and feared baseball team in the Central District.
"We have a senior class full of leaders and a team with great chemistry," Hunt said. "Our young guys for varsity played every game as freshmen, so even though they are young, they have been asked to mature quickly.”
Among those the coach sees as cornerstones to the Jackets’ success are Konner Daughreity, Jonny Askew, Caden Rowland, Owynn Gleason, Cash Finnell and Logan Trace.
“We are counting on these players to lead and come through,” he said.
Hunt said he uses a rallying cry to motivate the team.
“Pressure is a privilege,” he said. “If you find yourself in a pressure situation, think of it as an opportunity. “
The 2022 season presents that opportunity to the Jackets, who begin their season Tuesday, March 15, hosting Licking Valley at 5 p.m.
