Diamond sports open despite freezing temperatures

The official beginning of spring was Monday, March 20, but mother nature forgot to pay the heating bill. Despite the subfreezing temperatures, Mt. Vernon, Aurora and Miller have all competed in their preseason jamborees and both Miller teams and Mt. Vernon softball have started turning some heads.
Mt. Vernon and Aurora baseball have yet to play their first game this season but are slated to open their season in out-of-town tournaments. Mt. Vernon will play down in the Cassville tournament and Aurora will play in the inaugural Roy B. Shaver Classic in Neosho.

Miller baseball
Miller baseball is off to a hot 2-0 start after a 6-11 2022 season ended in the district quarterfinals with a 4-3 loss to Skyline. First year coach Justin Snider has had plenty of success headlined by a trip to the Final Four in 2012 during his 10-year stint with Clever. In his first two games as a Cardinal, Snider’s offense has put up 10 runs in each matchup, a 10-3 win over Exeter and a 10-8 thriller against McAuley Catholic on Monday.
“They are doing a really good job of competing right now. We were down twice tonight against McAuley but they were able to just keep their heads right and responded with a five run third inning that put us in control,” Snider said following the win Monday.

Miller softball
The Lady Cardinals were also in action Monday as they look to defend their district title from a year ago which was their first since the mid 2000’s. Their defense is off to a very strong start as the Lady Cardinals opened their season to the tune of a 15-0 run rule victory over Billings, Monday night. Freshman pitcher Loghann Leivan was masterful on the mound striking out six of the 10 batters she saw allowing only a single hit. The offense was rolling with 14 hits while seniors Hailey Mart, and Alyssa Hill each enjoyed three hit games. What made this game so impressive is all nine hitters managed to cross home plate safely for a run.

Mt. Vernon softball
The Lady Mt’neers have serious Final Four aspirations and are off to a great start sitting at 8-0 with a championship trophy from the Joplin Area Tournament in Purdy and in the Mt. Vernon Tournament. In those eight wins, All-State senior pitcher Harley Daniels is a combined 5-0 with a 1.50 ERA with 41 strikeouts already in this young season. What has been most impressive has been the quality of opponents that the Lady Mt’neers have defeated, including the top-ranked team in the state and defending state champions Diamond, in walk-off fashion thanks to a double from Daniels’ younger sister Molly.
To add to their resume, they hold a 6-3 win over Class 1 runner-up Jasper, 8-5, over state-ranked Sarcoxie, a good El Dorado Springs squad 17-2 and an 8-0 shutout over perennial power Strafford. Mt. Vernon gets contributions up and down the lineup as eight hitters are hitting over .350, including sophomore Cheyenne Bieber hitting an unreal .650, driving in 14 runs with two triples and a home run. The Bomb Squad, as they call the club of home run hitters may get full this year as the Lady Mt’neers already have five members. They are scheduled to participate in the Pleasant Hope tournament Friday weather permitting and a potential matchup against Miller.