MOUNT VERNON — The Mount Vernon baseball team has had different players step up at different times throughout the year. Thursday, four hitters and a sophomore pitcher stepped up, leading the Jackets to an 8-5 victory over visiting Mansfield Madison.

“It seems like game-to-game, we’ve had different people do different things to be the difference maker. Up and down the lineup, nearly everyone has had their day in the sun,” said Mount Vernon coach Doug Savage.

The top half of the lineup did most of the damage offensively for the Jackets (19-2), while Shawn Maxwell kept them in the game with a strong pitching performance.

Maxwell struggled getting the leadoff batter early and it cost him in the second inning. Three straight hits from the Rams (16-5), then a two-run double by Mike Siwick helped them score four times in the inning. But, the sophomore hurler was able to settle down after that, coaxing the Rams into some easy outs the rest of the way. Maxwell finished the night allowing 12 hits, but he struck out three, walked two and allowed just one other run after the second inning. That pushed his record to 6-0 on the season.

“Shawn struggled early, in the first four innings, he did not get the leadoff man out. That gave us a little bit of a problem. They (Madison) can really swing it. They came into the game with 28 home runs, so they’re noted for their power,” Savage said. “But Shawn kept them in the park, our outfield made some nice plays and we turned a big double play.”