The Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets baseball team lives by the motto, "It is not what we do, it is how we do it," and Yellow Jackets baseball coach Nate Hunt has his players doing it successfully, with fundamentally sound, disciplined play.
Last season was a strong one for the team, and they look to build on that for 2023. Mount Vernon finished second in the Ohio Cardinal Conference in 2022 with a 10-2 mark, one game behind Wooster, and amassed a 17-6 overall record, ending their playoff run with a 10-7 loss to Dublin Jerome after holding a 6-3 lead into the fifth.
Eight players on the team received league honors, with three players named to the first team OCC All-League – Konner Daughreity, Logan Trace and Caden Rowland.
Coach Hunt is in his fifth year guiding the Jackets and said this season is goal-oriented – a conference title. “Last year, there was a lot of success and we look to continue to build off that for this year,” Hunt said. “Conference was in reach last year and we just fell short. However, I think last year's adversity will help us achieve the goals ahead.”
Hunt said the mission of Mount Vernon baseball is to be more fundamental and more disciplined than any other team we compete against. “We will do all the little things correctly and more importantly be great teammates,” he said. “I was very fortunate to have a hall-of-fame high school baseball coach -- Dave Klontz (Heath HS). Coach Klontz is a huge mentor and role model in my life. We still talk weekly about certain things that I need his advice on. I love having him as someone that understands 100% what I am going through and how to overcome it.”
Coach Hunt played four years of baseball at Heath HS under Klontz and won two district championships while there (2010 and 2011). “After high school, I continued my baseball career at Muskingum University under Gregg Thompson, where I played three years.” Hunt said. “My senior year I was injured and I started my 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.”
Hunt said Mount Vernon has a great tradition of baseball and his goal has always been to try and incorporate that into his team and show them how important the sport is at MV. “We have a hall-of-fame retired coach, Doug Savage, who is an important part of the success at Mount Vernon,” Hunt said. “I wanted to show my appreciation to him and his dedication and sacrifice by retiring his number (No.1). On the back of our practice shirts, we have "TEAM 74" inscribed. This number represents that this year is the 74th baseball team in Mount Vernon High School history. This represents all of the sacrifices that all of the other teams had to do in order to get the program to where it is today.”
Hunt said he is counting on his three returning OCC First Team honorees, as well as players across all class levels. “Seniors Caden Rowland (pitcher/OF), Logan Trace (catcher) and Trevor Buttke (RF) will be our leaders, as well as juniors Konner Daughreity (3B/pitcher) and Jonny Askew (OF/pitcher), who are going to be three-year starters.” Hunt said. “Additionally, we look to sophomores Zac Clow (MIF) and Kayden Packard (MIF) for strong play.”
Mount Vernon’s 2023 season opens Friday, March 17, vs. Watkins Memorial and its OCC season begins Tuesday, March 28, vs. Ashland.
