Stoner spins Mount Vernon into the semis

FORT DODGE -- She won't overpower you with her speed. She won't dazzle you with her strikeouts.But when she hits her location, keeps the ball low and lets her defense do the rest, Emily Stoner will drive you loopy with her effectiveness.Stoner scattered five hits as sixth-ranked Mount Vernon blanked Jesup, 2-0, in a Class 2A state softball quarterfinal Monday evening at the Rogers Sports Complex."I love the curveballs, the junk balls," Stoner said. "My focus was to keep them off the bases. If you keep them off the bases, they can't score."Mount Vernon (31-12) plays No. 1 Conrad BCLUW in a semifinal at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The defending-champion Comets (39-3) beat Hinton, 3-0, Monday."We've talked since Day 1, we wanted a chance to play them," said Mustangs Coach Gary Stamp. "That's all we can ask for."The Mustangs are reigning state champions in volleyball, basketball and track. Two more wins, and they will do something no girls' sports team in Iowa has ever done -- sweep the four major sports."We try not to look at the other sports," said Becca Lowe, who delivered the decisive blow in the first inning when her single to right field was misplayed for a two-run play.Meanwhile, Mount Vernon played flawless defense behind Stoner. The Mustangs made the routine plays. They made a double play.And Sarah Ryan made a spectacular play, a diving catch in center field.That enabled Stoner to roll along. Jesup (27-16) did not get a leadoff batter on base and did not advance a runner past second base."It takes so much pressure off when you get that first batter out," said Stoner, who made five defensive assists and struck out only one -- the final out of the game.Stamp said, "(Stoner's) forte is to make good location. And we usually play really good defense. When we do that, we're a pretty dog-gone tough team to beat."Karly Cochrane started the game's lone scoring rally with a one-out single, then stole second. Kylea Weber followed with a walk.Lowe then went the opposite way, singling the ball through the right side of the infield to score Cochrane. Weber followed her home when the ball got past right fielder Nicci Roberts."I'm not used to many outside pitches. I'm normally a pull hitter," Lowe said. "I just tried to go with the pitch."Stamp and Jesup Coach John Begley are tight buddies. They spoke "two to three times a week" all season, according to Stamp."There weren't any secrets," he said. "We know his team. He knows ours.""It was just a matter of who played better," Begley said. "(Mount Vernon) got off to a good start, and they didn't make any mistakes."Leah Durnil had two hits for Jesup.

Jesup ......................... 000 000 0 -- 0  5  4

Mount Vernon ........... 200 000 x -- 2  4  0

Kelsey Lough (L) and Liz Vogel. Emily Stoner (W) and Micah Wieditz.