Van Buren County tops Mt. Pleasant in season opener

MT. PLEASANT — Mt. Pleasant and Van Buren County opened their baseball season against one another on Monday night. It was nice first outing for both teams, but in the end was Van Buren notching its first win of the season, 7-3.

Mt. Pleasant had everything going to begin the contest. There was no rust to be seen. The Panthers shut out the Warriors to open the game, while scoring two runs of their own off a Carter Amos triple. Amos later scored off a wild pitch, giving the Panthers an early 2-0 lead.

Van Buren was quick to turn the tide, bringing four runs across home plate to take the lead 4-2. Taylor Sprouse, Dylan Richardson and Lukas McEntee on Panther defensive miscues.

Both teams added one run in the third to keep it a two point game, 5-3.

After three scoreless inning by both teams, Van Buren sealed the deal with two additional runs in the seventh, making it a 7-3 ballgame.

Van Buren tallied just three hits in the game. Lucas Fett, Bailey Roen and Richardson all tallied one hit.

The Panther also had just three hits on the night. Amos had a nice showing at the plate for the Panthers, finishing 2-3 with one run and RBI. Jake Ensminger went 1-3 in the box.

Cooper Keldgord was hit with the loss on the mound. Keldgord pitched three innings, gave up five run (two earned), struck out two, allowed just two hits and walked three. Ben Newton also made an appearance on the mound. Newton pitched four inning, gave up two runs, struck out two and walked one.

Van Buren starts the season 1-0, while the Panthers begin 0-1. Van Buren takes on Keokuk on Wednesday. Mt. Pleasant is set to play Mediapolis on Thursday.