Stewart’s 3-run homer sends Mount Vernon past East Newton for district softball crown
It appeared East Newton may have escaped the bottom of the sixth in Tuesday’s Class 2 District 6 championship after just three quick at-bats. The Patriots held a 5-3 lead with two outs as Mount Vernon’s AJ Shipman slapped a pitch from Ericka McMillen to the shortstop position. The Patriots’ Sylvia Larsen fielded the ball on the run, strode toward first base and fired the ball while still on the move.
Larsen knew she had to be quick with the speedy Shipman running. The bang-bang play at first went to Shipman and allowed the Mountaineers to extend the inning. Mary Fields followed with an opposite field base hit she lofted over the infielders and into right field.
That brought up the top of head coach Matt Schubert’s lineup in freshman Hailey Stewart. Stewart drove a pitch deep to left center field and over the fence for a three-run home run to put the Mountaineers on top, 6-5. Emmie Schubert went out for the top of the seventh and held the Patriots at bay as she and her teammates celebrated the first district title since 2023.
“This is a state championship-caliber matchup and that’s exactly what we got today, I felt like,” coach Schubert said. “I should’ve probably walked her (Stewart). That’s my fault.
I about put her on to load the bases, but, the girl right behind her (Lily Burk) has been smashing base hits. But I still probably should have walked her,” East Newton head coach Jeff Atchison said. “Kudos to her.
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