MP takes on Ft. Madison in district game tonight

Mt. Pleasant?s Connor Shull will be taking the mound at Mapleleaf for the Panthers? first round district baseball game that is scheduled for tonight against Ft. Madison at 7 p.m.

The Panthers are 1-3 against the Bloodhounds this season.

They were swept by Ft. Madison, 10-6 and 13-7, on July 5. Earlier in the season, on June 18, the SEC teams split a doubleheader: the Bloodhounds took game one, 13-8, but the Panthers came back for a resounding victory in the nightcap, 16-0.

Tonight, they will try to continue hitting the way they have been lately ? the Panthers had at least 10 hits in each of their last three games ? to pull out another win over the Bloodhounds.

The key to the contest, Mt. Pleasant Coach Brent Broeker said, is to spread out the Ft. Madison offense. The Bloodhounds have some good hitters: Jonathan Temenak is 6-for-10 against Panther pitching this season, Nick Hunter is 9-for-14 and Jacob Riley is 8-for-13. Shull and the Mt. Pleasant defense will have to make sure they don?t all get hits in the same inning.

Panther hitters will likely be facing Temenak or Collin Eaves. They have seen Temenak twice before, and have 11 hits for nine runs (three earned) against the Bloodhounds? lefty.

For the Panthers? full district lineup, see below.

Mt. Pleasant district baseball lineup and batting order:

1. Joey Vaughn (SS)

2. Tanner Stutzman (3B)

3. Dustin Amos (2B)

4. Ross Heitmeier (C)

5. Jacob Miller (1B)

6. Cameron Engberg (DH)

7. Ryan Schenk (LF)

8. Alex O?Donnell (RF)

9. Justin Chalupa (CF)