The Van Buren County Warriors opened the 2022 season with a 7-3 road win over Mount Pleasant. For the Warriors the first season opening win since 2018, and first road season opening win since 2016. The first inning saw the Warriors go down in order. The Panthers would start the scoring in the bottom of the first when Carter Amos connected on an RBI triple and would score later in the inning to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead. The Warriors would answer back swiftly in the top of the second scoring four runs. The Warriors got it done with a hit by pitch, a bunt single and two walks. All of that lead up to Izaak Loeffler connecting on a single that emptied the bases and the Warriors took the lead 4-2. The strikeouts would start coming in the third as Taylor Sprouse would retire the side via strikeout in the second inning. Sprouse would strike out seven in a row from the end of the first through the third inning. Sprouse would help his cause hitting a sacrifice fly that scored Bailey Roen in the third. After three innings the Warriors lead 5-3. Sprouse would go on to throw 5 innings in the season debut, while striking out 11 and walking two. In the sixth Junior Jackson Manning came in to relieve Sprouse. Manning would see six batter in his two innings of work and would strike out 5. The Warriors padded the lead in the sixth adding two runs and went on to win 7-3.
With the win the Warriors are now 1-0, the Panthers fall to 0-1. Up next for the Warriors they host Keokuk Wednesday night. That game will be broadcast on KTWA “Today’s Hits and Yesterday’s Favorites”, 92.7 FM.
The JV game saw a final of Mount Pleasant defeating Van Buren County 9-2
Hear comments from Juniors Taylor Sprouse and Jackson Manning after the win. Also below hear comments from skipper of the Warriors Chad Scott.
