MOUNT VERNON — Ten months after finishing runner-up in the girls Division I state softball tournament, the Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets are at it again.
“We are a little inexperienced this year, but I think the skill sets are there to have a successful year,” coach Ryan Pentz said. “We just need to grow together throughout the season.”
The roster isn’t the only thing that’s new. On April 8, the Yellow Jackets will open the season on a new field.
Jocelyn Scarbury senior pitcher echoed her coach’s opinion.
“I think we are coming together really well,” Scarbury said. “We obviously lost a bunch of seniors from last year, so we are rebuilding our infield and outfield.
“As a pitcher, they’re behind me on every pitch and so even though we are rebuilding, I know they are going to do their jobs, and I’m glad they are behind me.”
Scarbury is happy to have her battery mate, Hailey Rudrick, returning.
“I would say we have a different relationship than anyone else on the team,” the hurler said. “I started pitching to her dad just for fun and called my mom and told her that I needed to get some lessons.”
Kaleigh Beheler another returning senior has big goals for the upcoming campaign.
“Personally, I’m holding people more accountable,” Beheler said. “I feel that with us being so young, we’re going to have to have stronger chemistry. Fewer errors and play as a team.”
Pentz believes that the strongest aspect of the team may well be in the center of the diamond.
“We have a very deep pitching staff this season,” the skipper said. “This is the deepest pitching staff we have had in my seven seasons. We also have good power throughout the lineup.”
Pentz said that the main issue in the beginning is one that all relationships need.
“We need to communicate better,” he said. “Our communication is lacking due to our inexperience in playing together.
“Most of our defensive mistakes were a result of a lack of communication.”
The mentor then addressed two things, one tangible, one intangible.
“We also need to believe. As a group, they didn’t get a ton of reps last season, and they just need to believe in themselves and each other,” he said.
The Yellow Jackets will embark on their annual excursion on March 28 to the Sunshine State for a custom-made spring training. Pentz said the southern adventure serves several purposes.
“The Florida trip gives us the opportunity to get to five games in with good weather when good weather in Ohio is hard to come by,” the coach said.
The team is also forced to either get along with one another or learn to get along.
“It gives the team a good opportunity to bond and grow together through the games and team activities. All of the girls stay in the same house, and they are forced to learn about each other,” Pentz explained.
“Lastly, the life lessons they get during this week are invaluable. These life lessons during these seven days are far more valuable than anything we can do on the dirt.”