Team: Mt. Vernon
Coach: Veronica Kirby, third year
2015 Record: 11-14
2015 Results: 2-5 in Hoosier Heritage Conference, lost to Pendleton Heights in the sectional
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Key Losses: Kylie Lyons
Projected Lineup
Sadie Baugh, Senior, OF
Kristin Connors, Senior, IF
Lauren Montgomery, Senior, IF
Morgan Moss, Senior, IF
Sara Pridgen, Senior, P
Jennah Ruddick, Senior, OF
Savanna Schultz, Senior, IF
Karly Van Slyke, Senior, IF
Macie Dungan, Junior, OF
Makenzie Gee, Junior, IF
Madison Lyons, Junior, IF
Victoria Whyde, Junior, P/IF
Jadan Fithian, Sophomore, IF
Kaitlyn Nugent, Sophomore, P/OF
Morgan Scruggs, Sophomore, IF
Season Outlook
FORTVILLE — With eight seniors on the roster for the Mt. Vernon softball team, coach Veronica Kirby sees plenty of potential with her squad.
“Returning eight seniors with varsity experience is to our advantage. We have a lot of confidence right now that we did not have last year at this time. I feel that this confidence is contagious and is going to take us far this season,” Kirby said.
The potential starts with Sadie Baugh, Lauren Montgomery, Kristin Connors and Morgan Moss, all of whom Kirby expects big things out of in their senior seasons.
“Sadie Baugh and Lauren Montgomery have played varsity softball for four years now, and Kristin Connors has played three years. Morgan Moss missed her sophomore year due to injury, so this is her second season,” Kirby said. “These ladies are all playing at the next level and will contribute to our team greatly.”
A season ago, Baugh hit .430 and drove in 13 runs, while Montgomery hit .319 and drove in 16 runs. Connors hit .300 with 17 runs batted in.
On the mound, Whyde saw action in five games, pitched just over nine innings and earned a win last season. She amassed five strikeouts, while sporting a 3.75 ERA.
“This team has a ton of potential. I feel like we will compete with any team in our conference and have a chance at winning the conference, and even our sectional,” Kirby said. “We lost a lot of games by one run. The girls always fought to the end, at times scoring two to four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.”
In order to win a conference crown, Mt. Vernon will have to contend with the likes of Shelbyville and New Palestine. Kirby admits the conference will be “extremely” tough.
“I feel that we have one of the best conferences. All the teams have successful seasons and postseasons. I always look forward to conference games,” Kirby said.
Another thing Kirby and Mt. Vernon are looking forward to is turning things around in games that are decided in the final stages.
“This team is extremely determined and focused right now. We lost a lot of games by one run last year. Hopefully, those will be ours this year. The girls all work extremely hard, and it will pay off,” Kirby said.
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2016 Team Schedule
Today: vs. Cathedral, 5:30 p.m.
April 9: at Lutheran, 11 a.m.
April 12: vs. Yorktown, 5:30 p.m.
April 13: at Bishop Chatard, 5:30 p.m.
April 15: vs. Hamilton Southeastern, 5:30 p.m.
April 18: vs. New Castle, 5:30 p.m.
April 19: at Frankton, 5:30 p.m.
April 21: vs. New Palestine, 5:30 p.m.
April 25: vs. Delta, 5:30 p.m.
April 26: at Lapel, 5:30 p.m.
April 28: at Fishers, 5:30 p.m.
April 29: at Greenfield-Central, 7 p.m.
May 2: at Noblesville, 6 p.m.
May 3: vs. Shelbyville, 5:30 p.m.
May 5: at Pendleton Heights, 5:30 p.m.
May 6: vs. Westfield, 6 p.m.
May 7: at Hamilton Heights, 10 a.m.
May 10: at Shenandoah, 5:30 p.m.
May 11: vs. Lawrence North, 5:30 p.m.
May 14: at Greenfield-Central Invitational, 9 a.m.
May 16: vs. Anderson, 5:30 p.m.
May 21: Mt. Vernon Tournament, 10 a.m.
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