Class 3A, capped its first week with a doubleheader sweep of No. 12 (4A) Solon on Friday, May 29, at Van Metre Family Softball Complex.
The Mustangs (5-0, 2-0) won the first game 5-0 behind a no-hitter from all-state pitcher Hayden Gookin. She had no walks and six strikeouts.
At the plate, Sophia Patten and Carly Elliott each had two hits. Gookin had a triple. Rylee Rasmussen had a double.
In the second game, a 9-8 victory, the Spartans rallied for five runs to take an 8-7 lead in the top of the sixth inning.
“Nothing really winds this team up,” Mount Vernon Coach Robin Brand said. “They are pretty confident in each other and back each other up.”
Mount Vernon tied it up in the bottom half of the sixth when Brand sent Sorell Telecky — who had a single, advanced on a wild pitch and stole third — home on a not-very-deep fly ball.
“It was really short, but I sent her anyway,” Brand said. “She didn’t hesitate. It was an incredible play.”
Then in the bottom of the seventh, Carly Elliott, who Brand lauded for defensive wizardry all game, had a hard RBI single to right field to plate Brynlee Bettcher for the walk-off win.
The Mustangs started off the season on Monday, May 25, with a doubleheader sweep of Central DeWitt at Van Metre FSC, winning 7-1 and 11-5.
In the first game, Gookin pitched a 2-hitter with 12 strikeouts. At the plate Gookin had a home run, a double and two RBIs.
Freshman Kinley Nissen hit 3-for-3 with a home run.
Game 2, Nissen was the winning pitcher, giving up 12 hits and three walks, but striking out nine.
At the plate, the Mustangs made the most of four singles with seven walks and four hit batters.
Then on Tuesday, Mount Vernon beat Wilton, 8-0, at Van Metre FSC.
Gookin pitched a 2-hitter with 11 strikeouts. Rylee Rasmusen hit 3-for-3 with a double. Bettcher and Annabelle Smith also had doubles.
“We came out with confidence,” Brand said. “We have a group of players that have had incredible success (in other sports). They came out and looked great. They are getting back into the swing of softball.”