Wildcat softball sends 6-0 message

Mount Vernon High School sophomore Janie Bohleber throws heat in relief during the win over Boonville this week. The Wildcats are enjoying tremendous early-season success. Photo by Garry Beeson

By Dave Pearce

The Mount Vernon Wildcat softball team is off to one of its best starts in the team’s history. With a trio of wins this week, the Wildcats find themselves sitting atop the Pocket Athletic Conference with a 3-0 conference record and a 6-0 overall record.

Everyone is contributing for the Wildcats through the first six games as freshman Stella Hall is leading the Wildcats at the plate batting .625 with an on-base percentage of .700, to go with a colossal 1.375 slugging percentage. Senior Alaina Allyn has a team-leading 1.91 ERA and four stolen bases. Allyn also leads the team with 12 hits and 13 runs scored. Allyn has four doubles and Hall has two triples and Aubrey Grimes owns the team’s only home run. Freshman Brylea Anderson is flawless in the field while junior Gloria Guerrero has eight Runs Batted In.

In games this week, the Wildcats would not be denied against SIAC power Evansville North.

The bottom of the lineup helped the Wildcats capture a 1-0 victory over Evansville North on Tuesday. Gloria Guerrero, Lilly Watzlavik, and Mallory Rhodes combined for four of the team’s eight hits in the victory.

Both teams were strong in the circle as Wildcat pitchers struck out 17, while North’s pitchers struck out only four.

The teams entered the eighth inning scoreless in the Wildcat home game. The Wildcats opened the scoring in the eighth after the freshman Rhodes singled, scoring one run.

Allyn earned the win for Mount Vernon. The starter allowed only three hits and no runs over eight innings, striking out 17 and walking none. Adleigh Whitler took the loss for North.

Rhodes had the only RBI in the contest. The second baseman went 2-for-4 on the day. Aubrey Grimes and Rhodes each collected two hits for the Wildcats.

Alivia Mullen went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Huskies.

On Thursday, the Wildcats squared off against the Boonville Pioneers in a big PAC clash.

The Wildcats took Thursday’s game in dramatic fashion, with a 2-1 walk-off victory over Boonville. The game was tied at one in the bottom of the eighth when Ali Lyke doubled, scoring one run.

The pitching was strong on both sides as Allyn and sophomore Janie Bohleber combined to strike out 14. Boonville’s pitchers sat down 15.

The Pioneers got on the board in the second when Mia Clamme hit a solo home run to center field.

The game remained 1-0 until Ali Lyke singled to center on an 0-2 count, which helped the Wildcats tie the game at one in the bottom of the sixth.

Allyn earned the win for the Wildcats. The senior pitcher allowed no hits and no runs over four innings, while striking out eight and walking none. Clamme took the loss for Boonville. The pitcher went 7-and-two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on eight hits, striking out 15 and walking one. In relief, Bohleber stepped in the circle first for the Wildcats. The southpaw allowed two hits and one run over four innings, striking out six and walking two.

Lyke drove the middle of the lineup, leading the Wildcats with both the team’s RBIs. The first baseman went 2-for-4 on the day. Allyn went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the Cats in hits. Grimes also collected two hits for the Wildcats in four at bats. Clamme led Boonville with one run batted in. The right-handed hitter went 1-for-3 on the day. Clamme and Lily Rickenbaugh each collected one hit for the Pioneers.

The Lady Wildcats found themselves back in action on Saturday against usually-tough Washington.

Grimes continued to hit well as she collected three hits in three at bats, as the Wildcats defeated Washington 20-1. Grimes had a solo home run in the third inning, doubled in the first inning, and singled in the fourth inning.

The Wildcats got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after sophomore Nakhilyn Williams grounded out, Grimes doubled to center field, and Lyke singled to center field, each scoring a run.

The Wildcats scored nine runs on six hits in the bottom of the second inning. Williams tripled, scoring two runs, Allyn singled, scoring another run, Lyke the singled scoring two runs, and Guerrero was struck by a pitch, driving in a run. Another scored on an error. Williams then singled, scoring two runs.

Four more Wildcats runs crossed the plate in the third inning to extend the lead to 16-0. Grimes had the solo homer to center field. Then an error cost Washington two runs, and Kai Wallace singled, scoring one.

Freshman Mallory Rhodes earned the win for the Wildcats. The right-handed pitcher allowed three hits and one run (none earned) over five innings, striking out five and walking one. Humphries took the loss for Washington. The starting pitcher went one-and-a-third innings, surrendering 12 runs (eight earned) on eight hits, striking out none and walking three.

The Lady Wildcats amassed 17 hits in the game. Allyn, Grimes, Wallace, and Lyke each collected three. Williams led the Wildcats with five runs batted in. The second baseman went 2-for-4 on the day. Rhodes collected two hits for the Cats in three at bats. Lacey Allyn stole two bases. As a team, the Wildcats stole six bases in the game.

The Wildcats were slated to travel to North Posey for another big conference game on Monday. The score from that game was not available at press time.