MOUNT VERNON — In the movie “Michael” John Travolta who plays the Archangel Michael, utters the words, “Nothing lasts.”
That may be the way some OHSAA softball coaches feel.
“Before this year, the coaches voted on the teams to determine what seed they would be,” Mount Vernon softball coach Ryan Pentz explained. “This year, teams are awarded points based on the teams they play.”
The Lady Jackets drew a No. 3 seed behind Westerville Central and Teays Valley High schools. The team, which finished second in the state last season, opens its playoff schedule hosting Franklin Heights on May 19 with the first pitch set for 5 p.m.
Pentz said that he was not surprised by a third seed and believes he might know one reason for the change.
“It would stop the possibility of a popularity contest,” Pentz said.
The way the math shakes out is that points are awarded for opponents and their rankings. The formula used makes figuring a golfer’s handicap look like child’s play.
“It boils down to strength of schedule,” Pentz said.
The Jackets boast a record of 21-4. Two of the losses came during the Florida trip and the other two at the hands of Licking Valley.
“All of our losses came in extra innings,” the coach lamented.
While no team wants to lose, Pentz believes there might be a pot of gold at the end of the extra-inning rainbow.
“The losses to Licking Valley came during a period of needed growth.”
Looking back at the losses, the mentor said that what happens outside of the white lines is critical. We just want to make sure we prepare for every team.” he said.
While not worrying ahead of time, Pentz did mention one team in particular with a hint of trepidation in his voice.
“We get far enough in the playoffs, we will face Riverside again,” Pentz said.
The Jackets lost to Riverside in last year’s rain-soaked state championship game.
In baseball, the Yellow Jackets have won seven of their past 10 games and earned a No. 12 seed in the sectional tournament draw. Mount Vernon will face fifth-seeded Worthington Kilbourne on May 26 at 5 p.m.
Coach Nate Hunt hopes to carry the momentum into the playoffs, scheduled for Watkins High School.
“Our plan moving forward is to fine-tune and continue to build on the success we have had in the past couple of weeks,” Hunt said.
Going into the final two weeks of the regular season, Hunt explained that his team has some growing to do.
“We have a very young team, four freshmen, three sophomores, and three juniors in the starting lineup,” Hunt said. “This group is starting to hit its stride at the right time of the year.”
The coach knows that timing is critical for the success of his team.
“We tell our guys we want to start playing our best baseball in May. We need to work on learning from all of our mistakes and mental lapses over the course of the season, and help it fuel our momentum into the tournament”.
Even though the growth and maturing of the young team is important, Hunt is pleased with the improvement he has seen.
“A lack of experience early in the season is not an issue because these young guys have played so many meaningful innings that they are no longer inexperienced ball players,” he said. “Our strengths this year have been speed on the bases and overall offensive production.”
Unlike the girls’ softball program, no changes were made to the selection process for the boys baseball programs.
Baseball stayed with the traditional seeding system as it has operated in past years. Softball was the first spring sport to use the RPI system.
Using the RPI system, total points determine the seeding of a team, not a vote by the coaches. Points are accrued based on the strength of the schedule.