Mount Union softball clinches league title under Minerva graduate

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Mount Union coach Meghan Simons coaches from third base.
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The University of Mount Union softball team clinched the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) regular season title by defeating Muskingum in a doubleheader on Saturday.

The Raiders, coached by Minerva native Meghan Simons, have once again proved that they are a force to be reckoned with in the league.

Simons, a 2006 graduate of Minerva High School, has led the Raiders to back-to-back league titles in 2021 and now in 2023. The team has a great core of freshmen players who have stepped up to the challenge and are playing with confidence.

The freshmen on the team include local athletes from Minerva, Marlington, West Branch, and other area schools.

Grace Heath, a West Branch grad, leads the OAC in stolen bases with 27. The senior also has the third best batting average at .438.

Mount sophomore Adri George has a BA of .411 and Mount Union freshman Sydney Mercer, a West Branch grad, is number four in the OAC at .403.

“The freshmen don’t play like freshmen,” Simons said about the youngsters.” We have a great core that are confident and push each other every day to get better.”

The Raiders’ seniors also played a vital role in the team’s success. They have been through a lot of adversity, including the cancellation of their freshman season. Despite this, they have continued to lead the team and put in their best efforts every day.

“These seniors mean everything to this program,” Simons said. They have been through so much adversity and continue to put one foot in front of the other and lead this team!”

Simons has a special connection with Minerva, having played basketball and softball there as a student-athlete, and also coaching there for a season. She still has a great support system in the town, which includes family, friends, and coaches. Her two boys also attend school in Minerva, and she said, “I will always have the heart of a lion!”

Since joining the Raiders, Simons has achieved great success. She has also been named the OAC Coach of the Year twice in 2019 and 2021.

Mount Union will now host the OAC Tournament from May 12-14.

With their recent success and strong team spirit, the Raiders are confident that they can make a deep run in the tournament and add another championship to their impressive resume.