5-run inning propels Mount Vernon baseball to 6-5 victory over Class 3A No. 3 Western Dubuque

CEDAR RAPIDS — Mount Vernon finally got some revenge.

It may have taken some time, and the stakes weren’t the same, but it was hard telling when the Mustangs beat the team that ended their 2023 season.

Mount Vernon scored five runs in the top of the fifth and held on for a 6-5 victory over Class 3A No. 3 Western Dubuque in a non-conference baseball game Wednesday night at Mount Mercy’s Plaster Athletic Complex.

The Mustangs (12-10) celebrated after they recorded the final out, avenging a substate final loss to the two-time defending state champion Bobcats last year.

“They were excited,” Mount Vernon Coach Charles Chatman said. “They kept us out of state last year. Yeah, you’re in June and that type of thing but that was a tough baseball game. We played them hard last year. We thought we had a chance to win that game and let it get away from us. It was nice to be able to get one.”

This date may have been circled on the calendar. Mount Vernon was ready for the challenge and had something to prove.

“We were eager to get out there and put on a show,” Mustangs junior and No. 3 batter Mikey Ryan said. “It was awesome to finally show everybody that we can play with anybody.”

Mount Vernon has found its stride, winning its fourth straight game and fifth of the last six. This has been a work in progress, taking time to shape into form due to the number of players in multiple sports and various activities.

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“It takes about 20 games before we figure out who we are as a ball club,” Chatman said. “We’re into that 20 (game) frame. We talk about it on the front end of the season and we try not to panic. Just play baseball and eventually we get to a spot where we can control some things.”

The Mustangs took a 1-0 lead in the second when Garet Swartzendruber reached on an error and scored. Western Dubuque answered with one in the bottom half of the inning, following with two when Brett Harris and Hunter Quagliano scored in the third for a 3-1 advantage.

Mount Vernon’s decisive inning started with a Miles Francois triple. Colin Bentley walked. Cole Thurn’s sacrifice brought in a run. Ryan reached on an error and Swartzendruber singled. Ryan, Swartzendruber and Kellen Haverback scored. Haverback and Tait Rentschler had two hits apiece to lead the Mustangs.

“Miles Francois came up with a big triple that got the dugout going,” Ryan said. “All of my teammates kept passing it on down the line. Everyone did their job. Put the ball in play and good things will happen.

“It was pretty good to get that rally going. Once we were up, 6-3, we all had a lot of confidence that we were going to win the ball game.”

Western Dubuque threatened in the bottom of the seventh. Harris walked and scored on a Quagliano triple. Quagliano scored on Collin McDermott’s groundout. Collin Coyle walked, but Mount Vernon quashed the comeback when Thurn threw out the eventual tying run attempting to steal second base.

Thurn is one of those multisport Mustangs, who plays football, basketball, baseball and runs track.

“He’s a good ball player,” Chatman said. “He does a really good job. He’s a good kid. He works his butt off.

“Just like everyone else on the field, he gives what he has when he has it, so it’s fun.”

Mount Vernon resumes conference play Thursday at Benton Community. The victory can propel the Mustangs into the postseason. The goal is to remain even keel and amass incremental wins, like throwing strikes, making routine plays, competing in the batter’s box and running bases well.

“Those are the things important to us at this time of the season,” Chatman said. “If we do those things well, we can compete with anybody.

“We just talk about having a good time, playing baseball and getting better daily.”

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