Mount Vernon shut out, finishes fourth in 2A softball tournament

FORT DODGE - Opportunities came. And opportunities went.Mount Vernon failed to get a clutch hit in several key spots and dropped a 4-0 decision to Fort Dodge St. Edmond in the Class 2A third-place game at the state softball tournament Friday afternoon at the Rogers Sports Complex.“We just couldn't get a hit (when we needed it,” said Mustangs Coach Gary Stamp. “I wasn't wild about the (strike) zone, but so be it. I'm not going to sour-grape it.”St. Edmond (32-6) scored a run in the bottom of the first inning, then wiggled out of trouble repeatedly. Mount Vernon had a runner at second with one out in the first and loaded the bases with one out in the second. Both times, the Mustangs (31-14) came up empty.Becca Lowe tripled with two outs in the third, but she couldn't score. A leadoff hit in the fifth went for naught.Marti Dencklau provided the dagger for the Gaels in the fifth, hitting a two-run single to make it 3-0.Mount Vernon's Karly Cochrane was named to the all-tournament team.The fourth-place finish concluded a dynamite year for Mount Vernon girls' athletics. The Mustangs won state titles in volleyball and basketball, then combined with Lisbon to grab a track title.

Mount Vernon …………………………. 000 000 0 - 0  5  1

Fort Dodge St. Edmond…………….. 100 021 x – 4  8  1

Emily Stoner (L), Jenna Pisarik (6) and Micah Wieditz. Jordan Florey (W) and Marti Dencklau.