Panthers explode in the fifth

FAIRFIELD - Mt. Pleasant had its back against the wall through four innings of Friday night's district opener against Clear Creek-Amana, but a breakout fifth inning saved the season. The Panthers put up eight runs in the fifth to blow past Clear Creek-Amana, eventually winning 8-3 to advance them to the district championship tonight (Monday).

The Panthers had a rough start offensively against CCA starter Camden Smyka. Corbin Broeker had a leadoff single in the first, but the Panthers didn't have another hit through the first four frames.

Jaxon Hoyle pitched three shutout innings, but the CCA offense broke through in the fourth. Ben Swails and Casey Ogden each had RBIs in the inning and the Clippers went up 2-0.

Mt. Pleasant went three-up, three-down in the fourth inning and entered the fifth frame down 2-0. Hoyle was able to get back in a groove and shut the Clippers down in the fifth, and that set up for Mt. Pleasant's big inning.

Brennen Bender led off with a single. Dalton Gardner walked and Chase Williamson was hit by the pitch, leading to a bases-loaded nobody out situation.

Broeker brought the first run home on a groundout to the second basemen. That cut the game to 2-1. Nik Coble walked to load the bases again, and Clayton Lowery delivered the biggest blow of the night, hitting a two-run double to the fence to give Mt. Pleasant the 3-2 lead.

Hoyle singled to right field to bring the lead to 4-2. Chase Lamm followed with a two-RBI double. Trace White had an RBI single, and Brennen Bender sent an RBI double to the fence.

By the end of the inning, Mt. Pleasant had batted through the lineup, sending 12 batters to the plate. The score was 8-2, and Smyka had to be pulled during the rally in favor of reliever Cade Armstrong.

'I thought our kids did a great job of finally squaring up some baseballs,” head coach Brent Broeker said about the inning. 'Not just rolling over the top of them.”

The eight-run fifth also allowed Coach Broeker to pull Hoyle, who was sitting just under 65 pitches, which was the limit to be able to pitch in the next round. White came in to throw the last two innings, giving up a run in the fixth but stranding four runners over the two frames to seal the win.

Bender finished the game 2-2 with a double and an RBI. Lamm was 1-3 with a double and two RBIs. Lowery finished 1-4 with a double and two RBIs. White finished 1-3 with an RBI, and Broeker finished 1-4 with an RBI.

Hoyle went five innings in the win, giving up two earned runs on seven hits and no walks, while striking out two batters.

'I thought he did a good job,” Coach Broeker said. 'That one inning he struggled a little bit, and it's hot. But he's down 2-0 and he kept battling. He came up in the fifth and shut them out, and that's what gave us a chance. It's nice that we kept him down to 64 pitches, so he's available Monday now.”

White gave up one earned run on three hits and one walk, while striking out one batter over two innings.

In game two, No. 6 Fairfield survived an early scare to beat Ft. Madison 7-4. The Bloodhounds had a 4-2 lead after three innings but a four-run fourth helped the Trojans avoid upset. Ace pitcher Kosta Papazogolou had to come in to pitch in relief, throwing 83 pitches. That means he will not be able to pitch against Mt. Pleasant in tonight's district final, which begins at 7 p.m.

In the other half of the substate, No. 2 Davenport Assumption smoked Keokuk 12-0 and Washington walked off 3-2 against Mt. Vernon. Assumption and Washington will play tonight at 7 p.m. in Washington.

The winners of tonight's games will meet up in the substate championship on Wednesday, July 22, at a site to be announced later. The winner of that game will be at the state tournament next week in Des Moines.