Hailey Rudrick drove in four runs with one swing Monday night, lifting the Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets to a 10-0 victory over Watkins Memorial.
According to the game report, Mount Vernon broke through in the third inning after a Watkins Memorial error allowed the first run to score. Carly Kennedy followed with an RBI single to right, setting up Rudrick’s three-run home run to center field, giving the Yellow Jackets a commanding lead. Mount Vernon padded its advantage in the fifth when Jocelyn Scarbury blasted a solo home run over the left-field fence.
Scarbury was equally dominant in the circle, tossing six shutout innings. She allowed only one hit, struck out eight, and walked one to earn the win. Watkins Memorial’s Severance took the loss, giving up six hits and six runs — five earned — over five innings. She struck out one and walked two.
Scarbury and Keely Pollard each recorded two hits for Mount Vernon, which showed patience at the plate with six total walks. Rylee Myers drew two of them to help keep pressure on Watkins Memorial’s pitching staff.
Conley paced Watkins Memorial offensively, going 1-for-2 to record her team’s lone hit. The Yellow Jackets had been eyeing this matchup all season, and their decisive victory carried extra meaning for a team that has built momentum through strong pitching, timely hitting, and steady defense. Mount Vernon will look to extend its winning streak when it hosts Utica on Wednesday.
"For the first time this year, we actually played a complete game. We did a lot of little things right. We executed at a high level offensively, defensively and most importantly mentally," said Yellow Jackets head coach Ryan Pentz. "This win has been a long time coming. Watkins Memorial is a great team and Coach Jellison runs a great program." Pentz added that they have never shied away from playing them as they made runs at the state tournament in recent years.
"Tonight was about us and knowing we can be great and we can beat a great program," Pentz said. "We proved something to us tonight and for that I’m proud of." He concluded by praising Scarbury's performance: "And can I say Jocelyn Scarbury pitched an amazing game!!! She owned the circle tonight and rose up."
