The Mount Vernon News sports department’s 30th ATHLETE OF THE WEEK nominations continue the established procedure of spotlighting student-athletes’ skills and performances on the fields and courts of action.
Based on performances, we ask ADs, coaches and the community to nominate one boy and one girl from their athletic programs to compete against other schools’ nominations. We ask for a recap of their worthy performances and a picture. Please send your nominations to me, Mike Blake, MVN Sports Editor, at mike.blake@mountvernonnews.com. Make sure YOUR school is represented.
This week we have four stars of the diamond who did their talking with their bats, and out-powered the competition.
Female ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Centerburg senior center fielder Chloe Goulter bombed two home runs, went 3-for-3, drove in five runs, scored four and stole two bases in the Lady Trojans’ 12-2 slamming of East Knox on April 16. Covering a four-game span, Goulter hit .692 (9-for-16) with three home runs, eight RBIs, eight runs scored and five stolen bases. Tim Rioux, Centerburg’s softball coach, said his lead-off hitter is an elite outfielder with a strong arm who can cover a lot of territory. “Chloe is the consummate teammate and leader who makes her teammates better by leading by example with a positive, winner’s attitude and work ethic,” said Rioux. “She is also an unselfish ultra-competitor who loves her teammates.”
“Chloe is a class student-athlete with a loving family and bright future ahead of her. We are very proud of her,” Rioux said.
Goulter has signed to play college softball at Notre Dame College of Ohio.
Mount Vernon junior outfielder Kiannah Harris is off to a strong start in 2022. Against Mansfield Madison Comprehensive on April 12, Harris led the Lady Jackets’ 17-5 assault over the Lady Rams with two home runs (blasting four-baggers in back-to-back innings), going 3-for-4 at the plate with four RBIs and three runs scored.
Mount Vernon softball coach Ryan Pentz said Harris is a tough competitor who works hard. “Kiannah is a dedicated athlete who rarely missed an offseason workout,” Pentz said. “Her commitment to the sport, her team, and the program in the off-season is paying off for her at the plate and defensively. On the season, (at press time) she is batting over .350 with 12 RBIs, three home runs, with only one defensive error. Kiannah is a great teammate who brings an element of toughness to our dugout.”
Male Athletes of the Week
Highland senior shortstop and pitcher Rider Minnick has committed to play for Mount Vernon Nazarene University after graduation, and the future Cougar showed his skills at the plate and on the mound in the Scots’ 13-2 win over Marion Harding on April 14. Minnick belted a two-out double in the fourth and a two-out grand slam in the fifth while delivering five solid innings on the slab, allowing only two hits, two unearned runs and one walk while striking out eight to earn the win.
Don Kline, Highland baseball coach, said Minnick is a leader with a lofty skill set. “Rider is the quarterback of our infield. He possesses good natural instincts and an advanced skill set that make him an elite-level defender,” Kline said. “Offensively, he is the spark plug that ignites our offense and has been our lead-off hitter for three years.”
Kline praised Minnick’s work ethic. “He will not be outworked,” said Kline. “He is the proverbial cage rat that can never get enough swings in. He is a great kid and natural leader in our program."
Mount Vernon sophomore third baseman Konner Daughriety is on a tear this season that has him leading the state in numerous categories. His game against Madison Comprehensive on April 14 was a microcosm of his 2022 season. Against the Rams, Daughriety blasted two home runs in the same inning to lead the Yellow Jackets to a 12-2 victory. He led off the fifth with a homer and ended the eight-run explosion with a two-run bomb to center. He finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
Nate Hunt, Mount Vernon baseball coach, is glad Daughriety is on his team. “Konner is a phenomenal kid, one on those who we are just glad that he’s in our dugout and on our team,” Hunt said. “Konner is the first one there at practice, at games and at meetings, and he will come up and give me ‘knuckles’ when he sees me. Konner is focused, loves the game and loves competing, and we get to have him for two more years. We are super proud of him and excited for his future.”
As of April 18, Daughriety was leading Ohio high school baseball in batting at .727; in OBA at .793; and in home runs with four. Hunt said, “We love his arm, but he is playing such a great third base that we hate to take him out of the hot corner to get on the mound. We are lucky that he is in our program.”
Congratulations on a great week by our ATHLETES of the WEEK, Chloe Goulter, Kiannah Harris, Konner Daughriety and Rider Minnick, and congratulations to all local athletes for solid efforts.
To all local schools: Send us your athlete nominations for next week and show them and the community how much they mean to their schools.
