The Mount Vernon News sports department’s MVN ATHLETE of the WEEK is a weekly feature that spotlights local student-athletes and their schools. Based on their performances, we will select an ATHLETE of the WEEK and recognize other outstanding athletic accomplishments.
Baseball and softball gained our attention with a red-hot softball team led by a red-hot player, and a return honor earned by a perfect diamond performance. Our Athletes of the Week are Chesnee Fairall (Centerburg softball) and Bryar Householder (East Knox baseball).
Female Athlete of the Week
Chesnee Fairall
In a week in which Centerburg won six games by an aggregate score of 67-11, five Lady Trojans had weeks that were stellar enough to win the top honor. One player’s body of work stood above and for that reason, Chesnee Fairall is our Athlete of the Week.
Centerburg softball coach Tim Rioux said, “Like several of her teammates, Chesnee had a tremendous week at the plate and in the field where she plays catcher. We won all 6 games last week, four of which were conference games.” For the week, Chesnee hit .542 with 13 hits, 5 homers and 11 RBIs and had 39 putouts behind the plate. From her catching position, she also threw out four opponents trying to steal.
Recapping her week: April 10: 18-3 win over Mount Gilead: 3-for-5, 4 RBIs, 3 runs scored and she belted two home runs; April 11: 7-3 win over Northmor: 1-for-3, 2 RBIs and another homer; April 12: 18-0 win over Mount Gilead: 3-for-3, 3 RBIs, 1 run and her fourth homer in three games; April 14: 6-0 win over East Knox: 3-for-4; and April 15 doubleheader sweep over Highland, 4-2 and 14-3: 3 hits, 3 runs scored, 2 RBIs and her fifth homerun of the week.
For the season, Chesnee’s stats include a .431 batting avg., .843 slugging pct., 22 hits, six home runs and 19 RBIs in the team’s first 14 games. Behind the plate, she has 115 putouts.
“Chesnee is one of the hardest working players on our team on and off the field,” said Coach Rioux. “And all of our players work hard. Chesnee is one of our three captains and maintains a 3.9 GPA in school. Chesnee is the epitome of what it takes to be a great teammate and player. She is coachable, respectful, and willing to sacrifice to make her teammates better.”
Honorable mention goes to four of Fairall’s teammates and a Lady Freddie.
Abby Herron had 13 hits in five big games. Against Mount Gilead: Abby Herren: 4-for-5, 4 runs scored, 2 RBIs; against Northmor: one hit; against Mount Gilead: 3-for-4, 3 runs scored, 4 RBIs; Highland, doubleheader: 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, 2 stolen bases.
Harley Webb had 13 hits and four home runs. Against Mount Gilead: 4-for-5, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs and a home run; against Northmor: Webb 2-for-4, 1 RBI and a homerun; against Mount Gilead: Webb 2 for 4, 4 RBI her third homer in three games; against East Knox: Webb one hit, 2 runs; in the Highland doubleheader: 4 hits and ribbies with a homerun.
Kayla Ferrell had three hot games and finished the week with 11 hits and three home runs. After going hitless in the first Mount Gilead game, Ferrell went 1-for-4 vs. Northmor; , then heated up big time. Against Mount Gilead: 2-for-4, 3 runs scored; against East Knox: one hit, a home run, 1 RBI; Highland, doubleheader: Ferrell 4 hits, 4 runs, 6 RBIs (all in the second game) two doubles, 2 homers (both in the second game)
Shelby Morris was a force on the slab, at the dish and on the base paths. Against Northmor: 1-for-2 and two stolen bases, with a seven-inning complete game in the circle, allowing one earned run and striking out nine; against Mount Gilead: 2-for-3, 2 runs and two innings of shutout pitching; against East Knox: Morris pitched a seven-inning complete game one-hit shutout, striking out five and walking one. She went 2-for-2 with a home run and 3 RBIs, 2 runs scored and a stolen base. In the Highland, doubleheader: she pitched six innings, allowing one unearned run, striking out 11 and at the plate, she had one hit, two walks and a stolen base.
Honorable mention also goes to Fredericktown’s Morgan Yoder, who was outstanding in the circle for the Freddies in a 1-0 loss to Licking Valley, on April 14. Yoder pitched six innings and allowed only two hits and an unearned run while striking out nine batters and walking none. She also pitched 1.2 innings of shutout ball in relief vs. Danville, on April 13 and 5 innings allowing two earned runs vs. River Valley, on April 12.
Male Athlete of the Week
Bryar Householder
It is rare that a student-athlete wins back-to-back ATHLETE of the WEEK honors, but this week, we have a baseball player who has earned the double nod. East Knox’s Bryar Householder was named ATHLETE of the WEEK last week for his 3-for-3 day at the plate with one walk, a double, three runs scored and one RBI, while also pitching six innings off the mound without allowing an earned run. He struck out 10 and did not walk a batter. This week, Householder wins it with perfection. In the Bulldogs’ 10-0 win over Centerburg, on April 14, Householder had pinpoint control and movement on all of his pitches in throwing a gem. Householder completed a perfect game as East Knox bulldogged the Trojans. After driving in the only run EK needed -- in the first inning -- for a win, Householder struck out 14 of the 21 batters he faced and needed only 73 pitches, throwing 61 for strikes, including 16 first-pitch strikes, never getting more than a two-ball count on any hitter. At the plate, he was 2-for-5 at the dish, with the game’s only extra-base-hit, a double, and 2 RBIs.
East Knox baseball coach Randy Baugher said this was a first for him. “I’ve been a player, coach and fan for many years but have never witnessed a perfect game, let alone seen one from our dugout,” he said. “The thing that makes it more impressive is that it came vs. a KMAC opponent (Centerburg) that has good hitters. Senior catcher Ryan Morton called a great game and senior RF Mitch Williams made a phenomenal catch for the second out in the 7th inning to keep the gem intact. Bryar was great, but a perfect game truly requires a total team effort.”
Coach Baugher praised his pitcher’s intensity. “That’s the most focused that I’ve ever seen Bryar,” Baugher said. “He’s become more mature emotionally and, couple that with his outstanding physical ability, Bryar has been pitching the best baseball of his high school career. And, being just a junior, he hasn’t reached his ceiling by any means.”
Honorable mention goes to Mount Gilead’s Carter Kennon, who had a monster day against Triad in a doubleheader sweep, on April 14. Kennon unloaded for a pair of homers and seven RBIs in a 10-2 win for Mount Gilead in the opener, going 4-for-5 with double and three runs scored. In the second game, a 13-12 Indians win, Kennon went 2-for-5 with a double and a triple, while knocking in a run and scoring four times. In four other games during the week, Kennon went 3-for-4 and a stolen base; 0-for-4; 5-for-6 (2 doubles) with 4 RBIs and 4 runs scored and 2-for-3 with a double and a steal.
To coaches and community members, join us in our award process. Send us your choices for MVN ATHLETE of the WEEK, a recap of their prowess in competition and a photo of them and give them the community recognition they deserve. Encourage your community members and coaches to contact us each week. Send your selections to mike.blake@mountvernonnews.com.
