The Mount Vernon varsity softball team is going through some growing pains, but after an initial loss to Solon in the first game of a doubleheader, the squad quickly began to gel.
Monday, May 22“We have a new group, are reloading, and after a first loss to Solon in a delayed game due to no officials, we came back and won the second game of the doubleheader and looked strong and prepared while doing so,” said Mustangs head coach Robin Brand.
Game One Solon jumped out to an early lead in the first game with six runs in the first inning, with two more following in the third inning. The Mustangs were unable to respond, and lost 8-0.
Kendall Jensen of Solon was a lot to deal with, as she produced three hits, four RBIs, and a home run. On the other side of the plate, she pitched for seven innings, striking out seven batters.
Game TwoThe Mustangs started to look like the Mustangs in their second game of the season, and the doubleheader.
The visiting Mount Vernon group won 5-4 with some help from a fresh face.
“Hayden Gookin, an eighth grader, had her first varsity start as a pitcher,” Brand said. Gookin, said Brand, “stayed controlled, confident and handled it incredibly well.
“She kept Solon off-balance in the second game.”
Thursday, May 25 The Mustangs won their third game of the week with a 3-2 win at the Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks.
The visiting Mount Vernon squad started down 1-0 in the early going, but came back to win 3-2 off a single home run by Addison Gookin and a two-run home run by Lilly See.
Coach Brand said the girls are “both strong and confident returners from our state championship team.”
“Every single person on this varsity team has had a positive contribution in each of the games we’ve played. They have big shoes to fill from last years six starters that graduated.
Monday, May 22
Game one
MV 000 000 0 0
SOL 602 000 0 8
Solon
Hits | Kendall Jensen, JR H 3 BA .750 R 1 RBI 4 HR 1
Earned Run Average | Kendall Jensen, JR ERA 0.00 IP 7 SO 7
Game Two
MV 001 010 3 5
SOL 200 010 1 4
ROSTER
Courtney Franck Ninth
Taylor Franck Ninth
Olivia Haverback SO
Abbie Moss SO
Eryn Jackson SO
Lillian Wischmeyer JR
Elsa Appleton JR
Addison Gookin JR
Kenna Rollinger JR
Kameron Brand SR
Lilly See SR
“They are on their way to doing just that,” said Brand.
MV SB Agate Monday, May 22 Game one MV 000 000 0 0 SOL 602 000 0 8 Solon Hits | Kendall Jensen, JR H 3 BA .750 R 1 RBI 4 HR 1 Earned Run Average | Kendall Jensen, JR ERA 0.00 IP 7 SO 7 Game Two MV 001 010 3 5 SOL 200 010 1 4 ROSTER Courtney Franck Ninth Taylor Franck Ninth Olivia Haverback SO Abbie Moss SO Eryn Jackson SO Lillian Wischmeyer JR Elsa Appleton JR Addison Gookin JR Kenna Rollinger JR Kameron Brand SR Lilly See SR