The Iola Mustangs finished the 2025 season as regional runner-up after falling to Burlington 8-4 Wednesday.
After going into extra innings, a two-out, walk-off grand slam decided the regional championship. Burlington moves on to the state tournament while Iola wraps up the season, 19-7.
“I was proud of how they competed today. We talked all season to compete every day so we have a chance in a game like this,” said Iola coach Chris Weide. “They gave themselves a chance and I’m proud of their effort. They came out with the right mindset at the plate. They hit the ball well, and Zoie threw the ball well. Defensively, we backed her up. I thought we were hitting on all cylinders against Jayhawk.”
Sophomore Zoie Hesse gave Iola fans plenty to look forward to next season while starting both regional tournament games as pitcher. She tallied eight strikeouts while picking up the win in a 12-3 victory over Jayhawk-Linn and also leading the Mustangs in RBIs with two.
Mustangs vs Jayhawk-Linn
Senior third baseman Harper Desmarteau’s third-inning line drive forced an outfield error and plated Iola’s first run. Hesse plated Desmarteau the next at-bat. Moments later, Iola benefited from another outfield error forced by a line drive from sophomore outfielder Brooklyn Holloway and senior pinch-runner
Baylie Crooks scored on an errant pitch to give Iola a 4-0 advantage.
Iola continued to pour on the runs with RBIs from senior first baseman Kaysin Crusinbery and freshman designated hitter Addi Wacker. The Mustangs scored six more on hits from senior outfielder Alana Mader, senior shortstop Elza Clift, senior catcher Reese Curry and Desmarteau.
Jayhawk-Linn attempted to rally with three runs in the sixth inning, but it was not enough to get back into contention. Curry had a team-leading four hits while successful in 4 of 5 at-bats followed by Clift and Hesse, who had three each.
Mustangs vs Burlington
With Hesse catching fire early and the Mustangs boasting a 4-1 lead heading into the sixth inning, Iola seemed to have visions of a regional championship dancing in their heads.
A Hesse two-run homer put Iola on the scoreboard in the opening frame, then made it 4-0 in the second inning on a two-RBI line drive.
Backed by Hesse on the mound and a nearly flawless defense with only a pair of errors, Iola had the momentum. Burlington chipped away at the Mustangs’ lead until forcing the contest into extra innings with two runs in the seventh.
Iola High School senior catcher Reese Curry gets her fourth hit of the game while facing Jayhawk-Linn during a 12-3 victory in the regional semfinals Wednesday.
Iola remained confident with two outs and the bases loaded, but Burlington senior pitcher Grace Birk, a University of Louisiana Monroe signee who already tallied 10 strikeouts on the Mustangs, stepped into the batter’s box. On the first pitch she sent a shot soaring over the left-center fence, bringing Iola’s season to a sudden, heartwrenching, end.
“We’re proud of their effort. That’s why I love this team. There’s no finger pointing,” Weide said. “We win as a team, and we lose as a team. They all gave 100 percent effort and that’s all you can ask.”
Although having plenty to look forward to next season, the Mustangs will experience a significant rebuild. Nine seniors, including seven starters, recently graduated.
While a challenge for many coaches, Weide feels confident moving forward thanks to the foundation the 2025 seniors created.
“We’re proud of them. We have nine seniors that gave everything they had over the last four years,” Weide said. “We’re going to miss those girls. We wanted to win for them more than anything. We’re all ready for a break and to relax a little bit. We will play in a Chanute league to evaluate the middle school girls coming up and the younger girls on our team as well. 
Iola High School sophomore Zoie Hesse drives in the last two runs of her team-leading six RBIs on the day while also pitching both games of the regional tournament with 14 strikeouts over 15 innings on the mound.
“As bad as it hurts, in nine months we’re going to get after it again and see what happens.”
