Fort Madison boys slugged by Panthers

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG

PCC EDITOR

MT. PLEASANT - The Bloodhounds baseball team managed just three hits in two games as Mt. Pleasant pounded FMHS 16-1, 12-0 in a doubleheader Monday night on the road.

Dayne Cordray, Jordan Gerdes and Brandon Reichelt had the lone hits for the Hounds.

The Hounds gave up eight runs in the bottom of the second after Gerdes had held the game at 0-0 through 1 1/2 innings in game 1. The Panther's Colby Potts baffled FMHS hitters in the first game retiring the first seven hitters on either strikeouts or infield ground outs.

The Hounds made a little noise in the third inning after a Caleb Parson grounded out to short, Tony Fortado reached on a walk and Gaven Wiseman singled to short center to move Fortado up. Cordray then singled up the middle again moving Fortado to third and loading the bases.

Parker Denning then grounded to the pitcher who forced Fortado at home for the second out and the bases were still loaded for the Hounds. Gerdes singled to center and plated Wiseman. Reichelt then grounded into short where the Panther's got Gerdes in a force out at second to end the inning.

The Hounds went 1-2-3 in the top of the 4th trailing 16-1 to end the game on a 15-run rule after four innings.

For the Panthers, Chase Lamm singled to start the bottom of the second inning and then Gerdes got Potts on strikes. Clayton Lowery doubled to left field scoring Lamm, and Nick Coble reached on a throwing error at third. Lowery was able to score on the error. Noah Walls grounded out to short for the second out with the Hounds trailing manageably at 3-0.

But the Panthers then capitalized on a single by Jordan Magnani at the top of the lineup and then three consecutive walks followed by a Lamm single that scored two. Potts drew a walk and then Lowery flied out to end the inning with the Panthers up 8-0.

Fort Madison held the Panther's in the third surrendering only a walk, but then gave up eight more runs in the bottom of the fourth to end the game. Potts hit a single to right center scoring Cooper Huckabone with the game-winning hit.

In the second game, Cordray drew a walk to start the game. Denning grounded to second where Cordray was tagged out between the bases and Denning was thrown out at first. Gerdes reached on a error at third before Reichelt then lined a single into right field, but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double, stranding Gerdes at third base.

Magnani and Trace White would combine to retire the next 12 Hounds batters in a row.

The Panthers put up five consecutive runs in the top of the first after Cordray got Magnani to ground out to short. Colby Potts lined a triple to right that scored Caleb Potts and Lamm. Potts came around to score on a Bryce Anderson sacrifice fly to left. Zach Beason grounded to third to end the inning.

The Panthers went scoreless in the second and then put up another five-spot in the third, including another two RBI triple by Colby Potts to right field. Mount Pleasant put up two more insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth and retired FMHS in order in the top of the fifth to end the game on the 10-run rule after five innings.

Cordray went one inning and gave up five runs, three earned on four hits. Fortado pitched an 1 1/3 in relief giving up five runs, all earned on five hits and two walks. Barker finished the game going 1 2/3 surrendering two runs both earned on two hits and two walks.

The Hounds play host to Davenport North Thursday night in Fort Madison.