MOUNT VERNON — When the 2008 softball season kicks off for Mount Vernon High School on Wednesday, one will notice little has changed during the offseason. The Yellow Jackets return nearly all of last season’s players, head coach Carisa Frysinger and assistant coach Lynn Apple.
With such a strong core, the expectations of the team are very high. Mount Vernon finished 16-6 a year ago, including a 6-4 mark in the Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division. The 2007 season ended with a loss to Westerville Central in the Division I Central District semifinal.
“Right now, we are carrying 13 players with nine returning starters counting our designated hitter,” said Frysinger. “We have a lot of experience back. We have three pitchers that could probably be No. 1 on any team — Kylee Marcum, Bailee Marcum and Brittany Rhea. Offensively, we should really be a powerhouse. I would say our weakness is our defense. We’ve really been focusing on it.”
The biggest hole the Jackets must fill is a huge void. Mount Vernon lost just one senior from a year ago, but when it is one of the area’s top players — Kaitlin Campbell — the loss is compounded. Campbell was a force at the plate and on the mound. She batted .526 last season (41-for-78) with 19 runs scored and 25 RBI. Campbell was also 13-4 on the mound with a 0.99 ERA. She struck out 126 batters in 113 2/3 innings of work.
“She was a heck of a player,” said Frysinger of Campbell. “Defensively and offensively, she was strong. … Also Kris Maiorino didn’t come back out. She was a three-year player and a starter. It was another tough loss for us.”
“I’m very confident in the players that are going to take their positions. I honestly think we are stronger (at pitcher) because all three of them are more mature, and have all played travel ball.”
Maiorino played solid defense up the middle and 19 hits for the Jackets last season.
The three players Frysinger was referring to on the mound will be sisters Bailee and Kylee Marcum and Brittany Rhea. Bailee and Rhea are both seniors, and both saw time on the mound last season. Bailee went 2-1 with 18 strikeouts, while Rhea was 1-1 with one save in 23 innings of work.
“I would like to try and have a rotation this year,” said Frysinger. “Last year, I rode Kaitlin Campbell because she was a force to be reckoned with on the mound. This year, especially with Bailee and Brittany having a lot of experience, I think the rotation could work. They both have a lot of confidence on the mound.
“Kylee is a sophomore. She didn’t get a lot of time on the mound last year, partly because she is an excellent first baseman. She can play so many other positions. She will see some time this year. Her maturity level on the mound is growing, but she’s young.”
Scoring runs should not be a problem this year for the Jackets, who return three players which batted over .300 last season. Mackenzie Shaw had 38 hits in 80 at-bats (.475), scored 26 runs and stole 15 bases. Trisha Gentry batted .416 (32-for-77) with 26 RBI. Of her 32 hits, five were doubles, one triple and six were home runs. Bailee Marcum also batted .339 last season (21-for-62).
“We’ve got a lot of strong hitters,” said Frysinger. “Trisha Gentry could have a really big year. She is bigger, strong and, actually, faster. That describes a lot of our girls. They are working really hard.”
Many of the Jacket players spend the entire year working on their skills. That is why coach Frysinger believes her team has an advantage.
“Focusing on softball in the offseason definitely helps us,” Frysinger said. “There are a lot of things we don’t have to go over as much because they’ve already been hitting all winter. It really puts us ahead.”
Around the infield, the only position that will see a new face is at second base. Gentry returns at third base, Sarah Freshwater at second and Kylee Marcum at first. Behind the plate, Bailee Marcum and Kayla Riley split time, depending on who is on the mound.
“Kayla Riley is really sticking so far at shortstop. That’s a tough spot to fill, and she’s doing a good job,” Frysinger said. “Kylee Marcum will be our starting first baseman. She is also a pitcher and catcher. Riley is also a catcher.
“We’ve got some other girls we will try there (shortstop). Karina Shackle is one. She has really stepped it up. Shaw could also play shortstop, but I hate to take her out of center field. She is a natural athlete. Shackle could also play second base, and when Kylee is not at first, she could play first. Sarah Palm can also play the infield spots.”
The Jackets outfield is solid with good speed. Shaw returns in center with Hanna Cullers and Jess Gall flanking her on either side.
“Hanna Cullers and Jess Gall will be in either left or right, and Mackenzie will be in center field,” said Frysinger. “We will have Renae Bakely as a back-up outfielder; Hannah Peterson is also a back-up.”
Even with the progress Mount Vernon has accomplished in Frysinger’s first two years, she believes there is more improvement to be made. And like anything, it comes with time.
“Coming in my first year, they probably thought I was a drill sergeant at first, but I wanted to turn this program around,” said Frysinger. “It doesn’t happen in a year or two years, but I think we are starting to get there. This group of girls has been playing together since they were 10 or 11 years old. I have a lot of respect for them, and they have a lot of respect for each other. They know when to work hard and when to slack off and have fun. It is a really good group of girls.”
One of the keys for this year’s squad will be execution in every facet of the game, right down to the little things.
“Playing the short game is important. I like to do that,” said Frysinger. “I don’t care if it’s Trisha Gentry, my home run hitter, up to bat. If I think we need to put a bunt down, I’ll do it.”
Mount Vernon faces a tough road this season, The Jackets will play single nonconference games against Gahanna, River View, Newark, Big Walnut as well as play in a quad and a tri this season. In addition, Mount Vernon will play in the Lancaster Tournament and the Gahanna Tournament.
“We have a really tough schedule, but I did it on purpose this year. I have a lot of confidence,” Frysinger said. “When we went to the scheduling meeting, we didn’t schedule teams we knew we could kill. We scheduled some tough teams. … We are in a couple of tough tournaments where there are a lot of good teams from all over the state. It is going to be rough, but it will prepare us for the postseason.”
The Jackets’ conference schedule will once again prepare them for the postseason. Playing the like of Westerville South, Pickerington Central, Dublin Jerome, Olentangy and Worthington Kilbourne twice each season challenges the Jackets’ resolve.
“We are probably in one of the top two divisions of the OCC,” said Frysinger. “I kind of think of us as a sleeper team. I think that Mount Vernon has always been looked at less because we are outside of the (outer) belt. I think that we might surprise a lot of people, just like we started to do last year.”
The Jackets open the season on Wednesday at home, hosting Gahanna at 5 p.m.