The IHSAA has released the pairings for Class 3A district baseball, and Mt. Pleasant will host SEC rival Ft. Madison in the first round of District 9 competition on Friday, July 13 at 7 p.m.

Mt. Pleasant will also host the District 9 game between Williamsburg and Keokuk on July 13 at 5 p.m.

The Panthers and Bloodhounds have met once this season at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex and split the doubleheader, Ft. Madison winning the opener, 13-8, and Mt. Pleasant claiming the nightcap, 16-0. They will see each other again tonight in a district preview at Ft. Madison.

The two Southeast Conference teams are locked in a battle with Washington for the conference title: the Panthers and Demons are 7-5 in conference play and the Bloodhounds are 6-5.

All five of the SEC teams are in Class 3A Substate 5, which is divided between Districts 9 and 10.

The winners of both Friday night games at Mt. Pleasant will face each other in the district final on Monday, July 16, at 7 p.m., which will decide who plays the District 10 winner in the substate game on July 17 at 7 p.m. The site is yet to be determined.