Mount Vernon high School softball coach Ryan Pentz cautions that these early games are only scrimmages before the real action starts for the Lady Jackets this weekend in Florida. But in their preseason tune-up against Highland on March 22, the Lady Jackets were running on all cylinders, hitting, pitching, errorless fielding and pushing runs across early and late.
McKenzie Krownapple drove in five runs at the Lady Jackets stomped the Highland Lady Scots 18-5. Mount Vernon outhit Highland 17-1 and led from the outset.
The Lady Jackets struck for five runs in the top of the first, and after the Scots put a run on the board in the third, Mount Vernon added another five in the top of the fourth for a 10-1 lead. Each team put runs across in every inning to come through six, and with a 12-5 lead, Mount Vernon went to work again in the top of the seventh with six more runs to win by a baker’s dozen.
Sydney Silvery connected for four hits, and Krownapple and Addison Christopher each knocked out three hits, Lilly Erb reached base on two walks, Christopher backed Krownapple’s five RBI with four runs batted in and Emma Calkins drove in a pair.
Rhyli Pope pitched five strong innings, struck out eight and threw 11 first-pitch strikes.
