FORTVILLE — Mt. Vernon picked up right where it left off.
The Marauders completed a Hoosier Heritage Conference baseball sweep of rival New Palestine Wednesday with a 10-2 victory at Mt. Vernon High School.
A late rally at New Palestine on Tuesday gave the Marauders a 5-2 win in the series opener.
Mt. Vernon scored five first-inning runs and added four more in the second.
On Tuesday, the Marauders trailed 2-0 before scoring their first run in the sixth inning. They followed it with a five-run seventh to stay unbeaten in HHC play.
Mt. Vernon is 9-2 overall and 6-0 in the HHC. They are shooting to be the first conference school to win three straight outright league titles. They are 30-4 in conference games since the 2021 season.
New Palestine dropped to 5-5 and 2-4 in conference games.
“We wanted to jump out early and try to take some of that momentum we had to end the game on Tuesday night,” Mt. Vernon coach Brad King said. “I thought it was big for us. We came out on fire and scored nine runs right away and kind of dictated the pace of the game.
Mt. Vernon had five first-inning hits.
Eli Bridenthal and DJ Scheumann had singles and Konnor Scheidt walked to load the bases.
The Marauders hitting star on Tuesday, Russell Weaver, got Mt. Vernon on the board with a two-run single. On Tuesday, he tripled and doubled in his last two at-bats. The three-run double was the go-ahead hit in the seventh inning.
Mt. Vernon’s first inning wasn’t done after the Weaver hit. With two outs, Joseph Wilson, who got a key pinch-hit in Tuesday’s win, hit a three-run home run.
“I talked to Joe before the game (Wednesday) and said he earned that start (after the pinch-hit Tuesday) at DH and he took advantage of it,” King said. “He got a good pitch to drive and got him a home run and helped us jump out to that lead.”
The Marauders added four more in the second on four more hits.
Josh James walked and stole second. Bridenthal singled James to third and later stole second base. Gavin Johnston followed with an RBI-single. Scheumann hit a sac fly. Scheidt hit an RBI-double and Weaver, back at it again, tripled to score Scheidt.
Mt. Vernon’s Nathan Criss delivers a pitch against New Palestine Wednesday. The Marauders swept the HHC two-game series with a 10-2 win.
Mt. Vernon’s Konnor Scheidt celebrates a home run with teammate DJ Scheumann in their game against New Palestine Wednesday.
New Palestine’s Adam Rickey slides in safely on a steal attempt ahead of the tag by Mt. Vernon’s second baseman Hayden Ford Wednesday. Mt. Vernon’s Gavin Johnston and Nick Heitman backup the play.
New Palestine’s Brayden Marrow rounds third and scores against Mt. Vernon Wednesday.
Mt. Vernon’s Nathan Criss delivers a pitch against New Palestine Wednesday.
Mt. Vernon’s Konnor Scheidt connects on a home run against New Palestine Wednesday.
Mt. Vernon’s Josh James talks with his teammates during their game against New Palestine Wednesday.
New Palestine’s Henry Thorpe delivers a pitch against Mt. Vernon Wednesday.
Mt. Vernon’s Konnor Scheidt discusses a tag-up play against New Palestine Wednesday.
Mt. Vernon’s Eli Bridenthal throws over to first on a pick-off attempt against New Palestine Wednesday.
Mt. Vernon’s 9U Marauder club team members watch Mt. Vernon take on New Palestine Wednesday.
Mt. Vernon’s Eli Bridenthal delivers a pitch against New Palestine Wednesday.
Mt. Vernon’s third baseman Russell Weaver attempts to field a hard-hit ball by New Palestine Wednesday.
“We want those crooked number innings and we do that a lot,” King said. “We do hit in spurts. We go out and put up a three-spot or five-spot. That’s a good thing. Normally this season, in our nine wins, we’ve jumped out and scored first in seven or eight of those. It’s big when you can jump out and get a lead.”
The Marauders took a 10-0 lead after four innings when Scheidt hit his fourth home run of the season.
“Scoring runs in the first inning is big. We have to have it. We normally do a great job of that,” Scheidt, who was 2-for-2 and scored three runs, said. “(Tuesday) we didn’t, but (Wednesday) we came out hot and were really ready to swing.”
The only bad news of the night for Mt. Vernon was the early exit from standout pitcher Bridenthal.
The Xavier University recruit had six strikeouts and gave up just one hit in 2 1/3 innings pitched, but was forced to leave in the third after a walk to Ben Morwick.
King said he wasn’t sure the extent of any injury to the senior standout. The coach added that Bridenthal was being bothered by a back muscle and would be evaluated later.
“They beat us. We didn’t beat ourselves,” New Palestine coach Shawn Lyons said of Wednesday’s loss. “They came out and took advantage of mistakes by our pitchers and they laced it. There are games this year where we’ve been down 7-0 or 8-0 that we allowed teams to get those runs because we walked them or booted the ball. (Wednesday) Mt. Vernon just squared everything up.”
Mt. Vernon welcomes Hamilton Southeastern today. New Palestine hosts Southport today.
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Mt. Vernon 10, New Palestine 2
New Palestine (5-5, 2-4);000;020;0; —;2;6;1
Mt. Vernon (9-2, 6-0);540;100;x —;10;10;1
Henry Thorpe, Jacob Morris (2), Chase Ankney (2), Nolan Cox (6) and Wyatt Matheis; Eli Bridenthal, Nathan Criss (3), Keenan Augustinovicz (5) and DJ Scheumann. 2B: NP – Brayden Marrow, Ben Hirschy, Blaine Nunnally. MV – Konnor Scheidt. 3B: MV – Weaver. HR: MV – Joseph Wilson (1), Scheidt (4). WP: Augustinovicz (1-0). LP: H. Thorpe (1-2).
