Any chance of a first-round upset? Not if Annabelle Smith had anything to say about it.
The sophomore delivered a fifth-inning inside-the-park home run to plate three runs and expand the lead for No. 4 Mount Vernon in a 6-0 win over Union Community on Thursday, July 9, at Van Metre Field.
“Annabelle is full of surprises,” Mount Vernon coach Robin Brand said. “She has such a nice swing, and can really drive that ball when she’s feeling good.”
Union (2-17) may not have been a real threat to upset No. 4 Mount Vernon (31-7) in the regional opener, but weird things can happen in the playoffs.
Smith came up to bat with two runners on — Brynnlee Bettcher singled and Carly Elliott walked — in the fifth inning. The No. 8 hitter had been 0-for-2 in the game.
She laced the ball down the third-base line, and it spun into foul territory in the left-field corner.
“I just knew I had to put the ball in play so we could get some more runs in,” Smith said.
She realized she might be touching all the bases when she rounded second and saw the Union outfield still trying to gather up the ball.
Coach Brand didn’t hesitate to wave her home.
“She’s so fast,” Brand said. “And I wanted another run, too.”
As it turns out, the Mustangs didn’t need the insurance runs. Junior Hayden Gookin pitched a 2-hit shutout, striking out 13.
Unlike WaMaC teams, most of whom have seen her plenty, Union had not faced the Iowa recruit this season.
“I enjoy that,” Gookin said of facing a new team. “I can mix around my pitches more. (WaMaC teams) I’ve faced some of those girls six times. They know what I’ve got.”
Gookin dominated early, striking out six the first time through the Knights batting order.
“I think any time to you see a new pitcher, it takes some adjusting,” Brand said. “And (Gookin) throws pretty hard. That’s definitely to our advantage.”
It also helps when the defense plays error-free behind Gookin, which they did.
“Being able to back up our pitcher means a lot to everyone on our team,” Smith said.
The Mustangs opened the game with three runs in the first inning. Sophia Patten led things off with a triple and was plated on a sacrifice fly to center by Lucy Wischmeyer.
After Gookin took a base on balls, Bettcher reached on an error. Then Gookin and courtesy runner Courtney Thurn were brought in on a double by Kinley Nissan.
At that point, Union replaced starting pitcher Haylee Hegdahl with freshman Austin Kirby. Kirby got out of the first inning without any more damage, then kept the Mustangs off the scoreboard for the next three innings before Smith’s big hit in the fifth.
“It was not our best game, we can do better than that,” Gookin said. “But it is just another stepping stone to what this team is capable of. And I know we’ve got more in the tank, which is exciting.”
Mount Vernon (32-7) advanced to a Class 3A regional final after a 7-0 semifinal win over Dike-New Hartford on Saturday, July 11, at Van Metre Field. The Mustangs rallied with a two-out, six-run rally in the fifth inning.
Gookin pitched a 2-hitter, striking out 10. Gookin, Nissen and Rasmussen each had two hits, and Bettcher and Wischmeyer had doubles.
It set up a regional final Tuesday, July 14, at home against Center Point-Urbana (18-18). The Stormin’ Pointers have eliminated the Mustangs in regional play in each of the last two seasons.
“We respect all and fear none,” Smith said. “We always keep that in the back of our minds.”
