Panthers, Trojans fight for first place tonight

FAIRFIELD - It's all on the line in Fairfield tonight (Monday). The Mt. Pleasant baseball and softball teams will travel to their rivals' homefield for two Southeast Conference-deciding doubleheaders, both beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The baseball teams are tied at the top. Both Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield sit at 11-3 in conference play, meaning if either team sweeps tonight, they are the conference champions. If the Panthers and Trojans split in baseball tonight, the two squads will share the conference crown.

When Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield met in Mt. Pleasant earlier this month, the two teams split a couple of two-run games. The Panthers stormed back from a 3-0 deficit to steal game one, and the Trojans got them right back in game two, coming back from their own 3-0 deficit to win 6-4.

The Fairfield softball team leads the SEC at 12-2. Mt. Pleasant is one game below them at 11-3. That means the 12th-ranked Panthers will need to sweep tonight to win the conference. If Fairfield takes even one game, they are the conference champions.

The Fairfield boys are the defending SEC champions. Mt. Pleasant won the conference two years ago by sweeping Fairfield at their place. Washington and Keokuk split the crown last season, meaning a new champion will be decided tonight.