Area softball district loaded, per usual

Class 2 District 6 is chock-full of quality softball teams. What's new?

Absolutely nothing.

This district has seen its winner go on to play for a state championship in each of the past four years, and it has won three of the four state crowns. It had won three straight before being dethroned last year by the District 7 champion, Warsaw High School.

Warsaw defeated Diamond High School 1-0 in last year's Class 2 title game. Prior to that, Diamond had won the 2022 and 2024 titles; Mount Vernon High School won it in ’23.

The Wildcats and Mountaineers aren't the only two teams to watch in the district this year.

"We have some great softball here in Southwest Missouri and, in particular, our district. You mentioned East Newton and Diamond, but, Miller's having a really great year as well. Lamar beat Diamond the other day. They're a team you can't take for granted," Mount Vernon head coach Matt Schubert said. "It's just a tough district from top to bottom. Our eight seed might be the three or four in another district."

The depth in this district isn't unusual. Even in years past when it has been the Mountaineers or Wildcats moving on to the state tournament, there have been other formidable teams that just couldn't take down those two in the postseason.

Take the 2023 season for example. Diamond and Mount Vernon met in the district championship, but their games to get there weren't easy. The Wildcats defeated Lamar High School 1-0 in the first round and then eliminated Sarcoxie High School 9-5 in the semifinals. The Mountaineers escaped the semis with a 3-1 win over Pierce City High School.

Then the two teams gave the fans their money's worth with a 7-6 district championship score.

Mount Vernon went on to finish the season 37-1 and its closest postseason matchups were its district semifinal and title contests with Pierce City and Diamond.

There's a team this spring that is looking to replace the two perennial powerhouses in the state tournament. East Newton High School (15-3) has started the 2026 season strong.

"There's four teams, and whoever gets hot is going to win that thing. You've got Mount Vernon, Miller, you've got Diamond — if (Taelyn) Reeder is on, they're trouble — and you've got us. Golly, I could see any of those teams winning it," East Newton head coach Jeff Atchison said.

Each team Atchison mentioned has at least one win over a top-10 team in Class 2 already this season.

The Patriots have beaten Diamond twice so far, 8-0 and 4-3. They defeated Lamar 9-0 and Pierce City 7-0 but suffered a 7-1 loss on Tuesday to Mount Vernon — their lone district loss.

East Newton was ranked No. 2 in the latest Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association's top 10 rankings. Mount Vernon (16-4) came in third tied with Kennett (20-4). Diamond (10-7) was ranked seventh and Miller (12-3) eighth for Class 2.

District 6 doesn't have a cakewalk to the state tournament and neither will it through the three-round finals. District 7 seems to be well-suited for another state title run as well.

Warsaw, the reigning champion, is currently unranked but receiving votes with a 7-2 record so far.

Also in District 7, Skyline High School is ranked No. 1 and has posted a 17-0 record to begin the season. It has beaten Diamond (7-1), East Newton (1-0) and Miller (2-0). The Tigers are scheduled to play Mount Vernon on May 5, right before postseason play begins.

Fair Grove High School (15-3) was ranked sixth in the latest rankings. The Eagles topped Diamond 11-1 this year and are slated to host Mount Vernon on Friday in a key top-10 matchup.