Hailey Rudrick propelled the Mt. Vernon Yellow Jackets to a 9-3 victory over the Mosinee Indians from Wisconsin during their Florida trip, with two home runs and three RBIs.
Rudrick made an immediate impact, hitting a two-run homer in the first inning and adding another in the second. The Yellow Jackets established dominance early, scoring four runs in the first inning and three more in the second. "When I hit a home run, I try not to think about it too much," Rudrick said. "All I have to do is read the pitch and deliver."
According to game statistics, Mt. Vernon amassed 13 hits, with Carly Kennedy, Brooke Dovenbarger, and Rudrick each contributing three hits. Rylee Myers added two hits and stole two bases as part of the team's five total stolen bases.
Head coach Ryan Pentz expressed satisfaction with his team's performance. "We played extremely well, did the little things right, and I'm really happy with how the girls executed throughout the game," Pentz said.
Jocelyn Scarbury pitched effectively for Mt. Vernon, allowing five hits and three runs—only one of which was earned—while striking out seven batters. "It feels amazing," Scarbury said regarding her win. "But I couldn't do it without my team." Pentz commended her efforts, describing her pitching as "amazing" against a formidable opponent.
The Lady Jackets are making the most of their time in Florida both on and off the field. "It's been amazing," Kennedy said about the trip. "It helps provide team chemistry and fun memories."
Pentz believes that both the trip and victory will be pivotal for his team moving forward. "This shows me that this will help us later in the year," he said. "We just beat a Division 2 state runner-up from Wisconsin with most of their stars returning. This proves we can compete with the best."
