Manteno and Coal City are an even 5-5 against one another since May of 2021, but likely not for long. The Panthers will challenge the Coalers at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Manteno is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.4 runs per game this season.
On Friday, Manteno was able to grind out a solid victory over Marian Catholic, taking the game 12-7. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Panthers.
Tyler Buehler
| 05/09/25 vs Marian Catholic | 3 |
| 04/29/25 vs Streator | 2 |
| 04/21/25 vs Lisle | 2 |
| 03/31/25 vs Peotone | 2 |
| 03/29/25 vs Kankakee | 2 |
Manteno let Tyler Buehler and Jake Stevens run wild. Buehler went 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and two RBI, while Stevens went 2-for-4 with four RBI, one triple, and one run. Those three runs gave Buehler a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Maddoz Toepper, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Coal City, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Tuesday. They blew past Newark 8-2 on Thursday. The result was nothing new for the Coalers, who have now won nine games by six runs or more so far this season.
Kellen Forsythe was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He didn't allow a single earned run while striking out eight over seven innings pitched. Forsythe was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with three RBI.
Forsythe wasn't the only one making solid contact as three players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Donnie Ladas, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Manteno pushed their record up to 17-5 with the win, which was their fourth straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.3 runs over those games. As for Coal City, their win ended a seven-game drought at home and bumped them up to 17-11.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Manteno has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.4 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Coal City struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 7.4 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Manteno was able to grind out a solid victory over Coal City in their previous matchup back in May of 2024, winning 5-2. Do the Panthers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Coalers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
