Special to the Mount Vernon News
At first glance, the 2024 Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets softball team has made one very obvious improvement over last season – pitching depth.
Last year, the Jackets were 21-8, finishing the regular season as Ohio Cardinal Conference co-champions and winding up as Central District runners-up. Last year, senior pitcher Addison Parker logged over 100 innings and accounted for 16 of those wins. Parker (16-4), will have more help in the circle, this season.
Jackets’ coach Ryan Pentz (62-23 lifetime), now in his fifth season as head coach, had to rely on Parker, while he waited patiently for his younger players to grow.
“Addy stepped up and took the blunt end of those innings, as a junior last year,” said Pentz. “She did an amazing job. We had a lot of young pitching, last year, but we didn't have any experienced pitching, besides Addy. Every game last year, we started either Addy Parker, or a freshman in the circle.”
Junior Grace Bates, Pentz’ regular shortstop, helped out in the circle, last season. In 33 innings, she was 5-1 with a 3.604 era, striking out 18 batters, while walking 23. Now, that the younger arms are ready, Bates is slated to play exclusively at shortstop.
"(Pitching) was never her goal at the high school level." said Pentz. "Because of our youth, Grace agreed to do some pitching. This coming year, Grace is not a pitcher. You'll see three girls in the circle this year. Obviously, Addy Parker, being our senior leader, will get a significant amount of time in the circle. Don't get me wrong. Grace is right there ready to go, but I've really encouraged her to pay attention to shortstop and really tune in on it. Now, we have plenty of pitching depth this year. Grace was willing to step in and take a roll in the circle, but she is a very natural shortstop. She knows the game and she can step in and play about any position on the field. That's why she stepped in last year, but she's one of the best shortstops I've ever coached. We know how important that middle infield and outfield are – catcher, short, second and centerfield -- and how important those roles are. Grace is right up there with the elite shortstops.”
Sophomore Miranda Oswalt (P/3B) will be a big piece of the Jackets’ pitching puzzle in 2023.
"She stepped in last year, and she filled in a huge gap for us," said Pentz. "We'll expect her to do the same, this year. They call her, 'Nails,' because she's always around the zone, she doesn't walk a lot of people, and she's going to make you earn your runs against her."
The Jackets are also looking forward to seeing what hard-throwing freshman right-hander Jocelyn Scarberry will do from the circle.
"She just has to grow," said Pentz. "It's just a matter of experience. She has good stuff. She's going to have to really lean on Addy and Miranda to be able to put the mental skills with the physical skills."
The Jackets are rock-solid behind the plate. Senior catcher/outfielder McKenzie Krownapple (.352), was the Jackets top run producer with 51 RBI along with five homers in 2023. Along with her is sophomore catcher/outfielder Hailey Rudrick, who had six homers to lead the Jackets. She also drove in 22 runs and had 15 steals.
“This year, I think Kenzie Krownapple could have her best year,” Pentz said. “She’s had one of the best off-seasons I've seen. She's been with varsity since her sophomore year. I've been around that kid a long time and you know I'm expecting a big year out of her. The two of them are complete opposites, but they're both very effective at what they do. I'm expecting big years out of both of them. I think you'll see them both sharing time behind the plate. I think both are going to have great offensive years and, whatever position I put them in on any given night, they're both going to be ready to go and contribute.
Early in the season, the Jackets will rotate a trio of utility players at second base with freshman Keely Pollard, sophomore Layla Joyner, and junior Brooklyn Dovenbarger (.491, 27-for-55 in 2023).
"I gotta guess the ball comes off (Dovenbarger’s) bat faster than any player on our team." Pentz said. "She's got tremendous velocity off the bat. The ball flies off her bat and I'm expecting a big year out of Brooke."
The Jackets return both starters on the left side of their infield with third baseman Presli Pope (.393) joining shortstop Bates
Meanwhile, junior first baseman Meredith Jones (.383) will return. She will be joined by senior first baseman Khloe Wetzel.
The Jackets lost five players to graduation, last June. Among them second baseman Kenndie Endsley (.467) who went 42-for-90, last season. Endsly also had 12 RBI and led the team with 47 stolen bases. Also departed from 2023 are Jenna Riley (.406), Sydney Silvery (.359), Kianhana Harris (.313), and Mia Reader (.235).
With about half of the team's stolen bases gone with Endsley, Pentz is expecting junior centerfielder Carly Kennedy, (.409 with 37 RBI and 21 steals) to pick up some of that slack. Krownapple and Rudrick will rotate in rightfield, with one playing there, when the other is behind the plate.
For the time being, sophomore Lydia Hill and senior Kendell Poole will rotate in leftfield. Rylee Myers, who was expected to see more playing time in 2024, is out with a broken hand. Myers was the team’s most improved player in 2023, hitting .521 in 48 at bats.
"I think she's one of the best stories of last season," said Pentz. "We spent spring break in Florida and we came home and Rylee's batting average was probably one of the lowest on the varsity squad. Because she put forth the effort and kept working hard, Rylee had one of the best averages on our team. by the end of the season.”
