MOUNT VERNON, Mo. — For the fourth time in six seasons, Diamond and Mount Vernon met on the softball field for a district championship.
On Tuesday evening at Spirit of ’76 Park, they met for the Class 2 District 6 championship. And for the second consecutive time, the Wildcats were crowned champions over the Mountaineers. The Wildcats won 9-2.
“It stinks that we always meet here. I wish there was a way around that because I feel like that is one of the top four games in the state,” Diamond head coach Kelsey Parrish said. “But I know Warsaw is feeling the same way right now and Skyline.
“We know when we’re playing Mount Vernon, it’s going to be a good game, it’s going to be a tough win.”
“It’s fun to play these games and we both wish sometimes we could face each other in a different round,” Mount Vernon head coach Matt Schubert said.
The biggest constant of the last six years is that Diamond has been in the district final each year, only losing two of them — both to Mount Vernon. Diamond also beat East Newton in 2021 and Pierce City in 2022.
“I’m just proud of my girls. They’ve worked hard. They’ve built a legacy. They’re making the younger generation super hungry,” Parrish added.
Diamond (26-7) began the game with two runs in the first inning as Aubree Ball laced a double down the left field line to drive in Lauren Turner. Then Taelyn Reeder lined a single to left field that drove in Ball, and Reeder advanced to second base after the ball bounced off the Mountaineers’ left fielder.
“When we have a strong start, it gives Tae (Reeder) confidence. Also, it gives our hitters confidence. Hitting is contagious,” Parrish said.
The Wildcats made it 4-0 in the third on a double by Reeder. With two outs in the inning, Sara Roszell blasted a pitch into deep center field that bounced once before hitting the fence to score two more and make it 6-0.
Reeder was dominant in the circle as the Mountaineers only had three hits and one walk all game. Their offense came against the sophomore right hander in the third after back-to-back doubles from Cheyenne Bieber and Rae Downing. Downing drove Bieber in with her double and later stole home in the inning to make it 6-2.
Schubert said they planned the steal of home based on an opportunity they saw in the return throw from Diamond’s catcher, Talan Ingle.
“That kid (Reeder) has dominated this tournament. I’m proud of her. She’s coming off an injury and she only allowed (three) hits the entire tournament and against two of the best hitters in the district,” Parrish said.
“She was really good. She hit her spots and kept the ball down and its tough when a good pitcher can do that,” Schubert said.
Diamond beat Pierce City and Lamar 15-0 and has outscored opponents in the postseason 39-2 now.
The Wildcats added three more in the fourth off of Bieber, who replaced Emmie Schubert in the circle for an inning. Ball had another RBI double in the inning.
Mount Vernon’s season comes to an end with a 23-11 record. It graduates five seniors in Maddie Schubert, Madison Rinker, Downing, Molly Daniels and Bieber.
“They have set the bar really high,” Schubert said of his seniors. “We’ve got three that have been all-state a couple years in a row and they’ve set numerous season and career records.
“For me, with my daughter being in that class and coaching these girls since some of them were in T-Ball and Coach Pitch… a lot of great memories and a lot of great times.”
Diamond will head to the winner of Class 2 District 5 next Tuesday. That district championship is being played Wednesday, and Clever won its semifinal game Tuesday night but is awaiting the winner of the Springfield Catholic-Strafford game.