Mount Vernon freshman catcher Gabe Grafft came to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning Thursday, May 29, with his team holding a slim, one-run lead over their nearby rivals, Lisbon.

There were two outs, and the bases were loaded.

“It is just doing the little jobs and putting the ball in play hard,” Grafft said. “Just do it, man. Just find a good pitch to drive.”

Grafft cleared the bases with a double to right field, the biggest hit in a five-run inning that led to Mount Vernon defeating Lisbon, 7-4, at Ash Park Field.

It was a big moment for the freshman, who had been lifted for a pinch-hitter an inning before with a runner in scoring position.

“It wasn’t because I didn’t have confidence in his swing,” Mount Vernon coach Charles Chatman said. “It was because we don’t want to overwhelm a young kid. I thought he was doing a good job behind the plate and I wanted to focus on him and Maddox (Thede) working together.

“Then, as the game progressed … he got a bone. … And ate it.”

It was the biggest hit on a night where both teams put the ball in play a lot. Both teams had used up most of their pitching in conference games and non-conference showdowns earlier in the week.

Still, Mount Vernon was able to use Thede. The sophomore gave up eight hits and six walks, but mostly avoided trouble.

“I think he grew up a lot today on the mound,” Chatman said. “He didn’t have command of his curveball early and battled through it. He kind of fought his own inner demons and pitched. It was fun to see.”

He was tasked with slowing down a Lisbon team that had sored 77 runs in its first five games.

“This team has shown the ability to put guys on base consistently, up and down our lineup,” Lisbon coach Lance Kamaus said.

Lisbon put baserunners on in every inning, but Thede pitched himself out of trouble with seven strikeouts over 5.1 innings, including two punchouts with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the fifth inning.

“It was a close ballgame,” Lisbon senior Wesley Sadler said. “We were one or two plays away. One hit away.”

Junior Bryce Boots got the start for the Lions, and after giving up a two-run double by Cole Thurn in the first inning, limited the damage until the fifth inning. He got seven outs on fly balls to the outfield, and struck out four.

In the fifth, Erik Lamb led off with a triple, and was bought home on a single by Michael Ryan. Then Boots walked Thurn and Porter Chatman to load the bases and was relieved by Sadler, who got a strikeout before giving up the hit to Grafft.

“Bryce competed very well on the mound for us,” Kamaus said. “They are a good team.”

The Mustangs moved to 4-2 after the win. They lost to Linn-Mar, 7-2, on Tuesday, May 27, and then split with Solon on Wednesday, May 28. The Mustangs took the first game 9-8, and lost the second, 5-1.

“We’re getting there,” Chatman said. “We’ve got so many three- and four-sport athletes, they just need time. They are still getting into the flow.”

Against Linn-Mar, Colin Bentley hit 3-for-4 with a triple. In the first game against Solon, Bentley, Toby Neal and Garet Swartzendruber each had doubles and six combined RBIs.

In the loss to Solon, Spartan pitcher Brady Wick held MV to just two hits.

Lisbon is 4-2 after two weeks as well. They pummeled North Cedar on Tuesday, May 27, winning 25-0 and 15-0. The Lions lost their first game, to West Branch, 4-3, on Wednesday, May 28.

“We were ready to go this year, ready to grind,” Sadler said. “We didn’t end the way we wanted to last year, and I feel we are a way better team and ready to go.”

The Lions went to state three straight years (2021, 2022, 2023) but finished just 5-24 last year. They also lost to Mount Vernon 13-0 a year ago.

“It is the same kids this year, but they’ve got experience,” Kamaus said. “I like what is going on, so far.”