PLAYOFF PREVIEW: BURTON PANTHERS VS. THORNDALE

The Burton Panther Baseball Team opens their Area Round playoff series against the Thorndale Bulldogs later tonight.

The Panthers are the Number Two seed out of District 26-2A.  They played in a tough district that sent six teams to the playoffs. Burton, Mumford, Iola, and Somerville went to the 2A playoffs, while Round Top-Carmine and Fayetteville are in the 1A playoffs.

Burton is 20-6 on the season, and finished 10-4 in district.  They have won 13 out of their last 15 games.  Ten of those wins have come by way of the 10-run mercy rule.

Their two leading pitchers are also their two leading hitters.  Kaiden Kalkhake is 6-1 with a 2.02 ERA.  He's also hitting .475 on the season with 2 homers and 38 RBIs.  Chet Fritsch is also 6-1 on the season with a 2.44 ERA. He's got a .415 batting average with 4 homers and 36 RBIs.

The Panthers coached by Matt Thaler, who is in his second season at the helm.

The Thorndale Bulldogs are the champions of District 27-2A.  They swept their Bi-District series over Ganado last week 10-0 and 7-6.  They have also won 5 out of their last six games, and 12 out of their last 15.

The Bulldogs were 6-0 against the other three playoff teams from their district during the season.  They beat second place Holland 18-0 and 6-0, third place Thrall 7-0 and 5-1, and fourth place Bremond 26-0 and 14-2.

Their Head Coach, Kelly Kuhl, has been there for 17 years and has 327 career wins.

Game two of the series will be Friday night at 7pm in Mumford.  Craig Montana and Darrell Kieke have the call of the action beginning at 6:30pm on KWHI 1280AM, 101.7FM, and KWHI.com.  If a third game is necessary, it will be Saturday at 2pm in Mumford.  If there is no Cub game, then we would have that one for you as well on KWHI 1280AM, 101.7FM, and KWHI.com.