Hutson hustles home in extras

MT. PLEASANT — The green light wasn’t on for Mt. Pleasant’s Colton Hutson as he rounded third base in the ninth inning of Game 2 against Fort Madison on Tuesday, but a red didn’t stop the Panther speedster on his way to home plate.

Hutson scrambled home on a Fort Madison error, leaping head first ahead of the tag and delivering a 2-1 extra inning win for Mt. Pleasant, a victory that snapped a five-game Bloodhound winning streak in the series. Fort Madison took Game 1, 4-1.

The play happened with one out and Zerek Venghaus up to bat. Venghaus bounced the ball to the shortstop, which moved Hutson from second to third after Hutson swiped second earlier in the at-bat.

A throw from the Bloodhound short stop was a bit high, and popped just out of the glove of a leaping first baseman. The ball settled innocently beside the bag, but Hutson was already high-tailing it toward the plate.

“That was pretty much on his own,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Brent Broeker. “I was trying to hold him, but Colton wanted to score and end this thing.”

As Hutson came flying into home, the Mt. Pleasant dugout emptied in celebration and mobbed an ecstatic, and relieved speedster.

“Broeker was telling me to stop, but I was like, ‘no I think I’m going to go,’” Hutson said. “So I’m glad I was called safe, or else I would have gotten yelled at.”

Mt. Pleasant’s only other run came in the first inning when Carter Amos scored Jake Ensminger on a sacrifice fly. Fort Madison tied the game up in the top of the second.

The only other Mt. Pleasant run of the day came in Game 1, when Dalton Church scored on a wild pitch.

Mt. Pleasant had a fantastic night on the pitcher’s mound. Ben Newton pitched a gem in Game 2, giving up just one unearned run on four hits and one hit batter over nine innings, while striking out four batters.

Cooper Keldgord threw five innings in Game 1, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks, while striking out three. Payton Hagans gave up one earned run on two hits and two walks, while striking out four over two innings.

“That’s one thing we’ve improved on since last year,” Broeker said. “Last year we couldn’t throw strikes. So far this year, we’ve done a pretty good job.”

Mt. Pleasant moved to 2-3 overall on the year and 1-for-1 in conference play. The Panthers will play at Washington on Thursday night.