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.
With baseball, softball and track events filling up the calendar, this week, two athletes get their due, and both are past winners for their skills on several fields of battle. Our Athletes of the Week are Ella Bouton (Fredericktown track) and Grant Bentley (Northmor baseball).
Female Athlete of the Week
Ella Bouton
In last week’s Gerald Swankhouse Memorial Invitational track meet, Fredericktown’s Ella Bouton won the Freddies’ only gold as both the boys' and girls' teams finished fourth. Ella Bouton won gold in the discus throw with a toss of 123’2’ and placed fourth in the shot put.
Honorable mention goes to relay track standouts from Mount Vernon HS. At the Lakewood Relays, Lady Jackets Sarah Phillips, Marissa Rutter, Sydney Statler, Amaris Middleton, Alex Couch, Hannah Hoffberth and Lucy Rush each won two gold medals running legs in various relay-distance races.
On the softball diamond, Abby Herren keyed Centerburg’s 7-2 win over East Knox, with a home run, a double and a 2-for-4, four RBI game. Her Trojan teammates, Alyssa Harris (3-for-3), Chesnee Fairall (3-for-4) and Shelby Morris pitched seven innings and allowed one unearned run, also receive recognition, as do their East Knox opponents, Shanda Melick (2-for-3 with a double) and Natalie Smith (a deep home run).
Northmor’s Taylor Cantrell helped fuel a comeback win over Cardington-Lincoln, 6-4, going 3-for-3, with a double, a homer, two RBIs and two runs. Mount Vernon’s McKenzie Krownapple homered to left to start a seventh-inning come-from-behind game-winning rally over Madison Comprehensive, 12-11.
Male Athlete of the Week
Grant Bentley
In a week that saw many top performances worthy of the top spot, we give the honor to Grant Bentley of Northmor. In the Golden Knights’ 8-0 win over Danville, Bentley was dominant on the mound and at the plate. From the slab, he threw a complete game shutout, firing for seven innings and needing only 80 pitches with 57 for strikes. He scattered four hits, all singles, in the win, while striking out seven and walking one batter. Bentley also went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in the win.
Honorable mention goes to a lineup full of stars on the diamond. Fredericktown remained undefeated with a 12-2 win over Danville, fueled by homers by Kaid Carpenter and Xavier Mullins. East Knox’s Landon Spearman got the win for the Bulldogs, throwing four innings of two-hit ball allowing only one run while striking out two, and walking none in a 14-2 win over Centerburg. Spearman had a strong day at the dish as well, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, stealing two bases; and he drove in four runs on two doubles later in the week.
Highland’s Kort Sears was 2-for-2 with three runs, four steals and a walk in an 8-4 loss to Northmor. East Knox’s Cole Delaughder went 3-for-3 vs. Cardington-Lincoln, April 18 and went 3-for-3 again the next day, against C-L, Delaughder had 3 RBIs, and Bryar Householder continued his strong season and went 2-for-3 with a home run, while pitching seven shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out 16 without issuing a walk against Cardington-Lincoln, April 19.
On the track, Mount Vernon’s relay teams ran wild in the Lakewood Relays. Jackets tracksters Cole Wilson, Ayden Kennedy, Andrew Ernst, Ethan Young, Zane Barber, Eric Mahofsky and Logan Eggert each won two golds running legs in various relay events.
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.
