The Mount Vernon softball team ended its season in less-than-stellar fashion in the regional tournament on May 30, but it was a victory in the district tournament that the Majors will likely remember down the road.
After losing twice to National District power Hayfield by a combined 21 runs during the regular season, Mount Vernon upset the top-seeded Hawks 2-1 during the district semifinals on May 19. The Majors advanced to the district tournament championship game, where they suffered a 4-0 loss to Yorktown on May 23. Mount Vernon ended its season with a 19-1 loss to Chantilly in the opening round of the Northern Region Tournament on May 30.
"We beat Hayfield in the semifinals of the district. Everything we worked so hard for this season, we saw it come together that night," Mount Vernon head coach Daniel Coast said. "Making it to the district final, that was huge for us. We hadn't been there in awhile. In that sense, our season was very successful. ...
"We're losing three senior starters but we've got some talent to step back in those positions. Hayfield's losing a lot to graduation, so we expect to be a very strong contender throughout the season for the district title, not just coming into the tournament."
Junior pitcher Olivia Compton was a standout for the Majors and will be a key returner in 2012.
"Every team needs one ace pitcher that is their go-to pitcher," Coast said. "She has great control on her location. She has very decent speed. Speed-wise, you don't see too many around the Northern Region that throw harder than she does. When she's on, she has a nice screwball and she can really work the outside of the plate well. We're very excited to have OC."
Compton said beating Hayfield and reaching the district title game will give the Majors more confidence next season.
"The biggest accomplishment was when we beat Hayfield in that semifinal," she said. "I thought about that game for days and days. Yeah, we lost in the championship, but I think beating Hayfield was the biggest accomplishment in this whole entire district because of just how good Hayfield is and how many amazing players they have on that team."