After claiming the class 3A state title last year the Fort Madison baseball team opened the season top ranked and is 6-2 in the early going. Coach Dick Burch likes the potential of this team despite losing several members of the pitching staff from the title team. Burch says a difficult schedule last year was a plus for his team in the post season and several Mississippi Athletic Conference schools are on the schedule, again. He says playing 4A schools is a big plus.Burch says despite several new faces the pitching staff is deep and should be a strength. He says the defense is solid despite having several newcomers in the infield.