High School Softball: Lady Comets 6, Fillies 3
The Fillies put up possibly their most solid defensive performance of the year on Friday despite losing 6-3 to Chanute.
Less than a week away from multiple games where they gave up double-digit errors that led to being run-ruled in both three and five innings, the Fillies gave up just one error in Fridays loss.
What we told them after the game is with the way were playing effort-wise along with the defense coming around and our pitching were going to be in a lot of games, head coach Chris Weide said. The effort is there every night. Were going to get there.
Iola drops to 1-5 this season.
Chanute jumped out to a 4-0 lead after scoring two runs in the second and third innings. The Lady Comets scored another run in the top of the sixth and the Fillies scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 5-1.
Chanute responded with a final run in the top of the seventh before Iola rallied, scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh before the Lady Comets got the final out.
As of Thursday night, sophomore Sadrie Overall was set to start the game but freshman Kailey Schinstock ended up getting the start less than 24 hours after earning a loss in the second game of the Independence series Thursday evening.
Despite the short notice, Schinstock held in there, allowing six runs on eight hits and six walks with nine strikeouts.
She didnt know she was going to start until she got here, Weide said. And she just really stepped up.
Senior Chloe Gardner led the team with two of their six hits including a big hit in the bottom of the seventh to keep the rally alive.
Batting has been a weak point for the Fillies so far this season but Weide says experience, or rather lack thereof, has held his team back.
They just need to see more live pitching, Weide said, You can do so many different things in practice but until you actually get out and face the different speeds and ways others pitchers throw the ball youre not going to fully adjust. The more real live pitching this team sees, the better theyll get.
Up next, Iola will try to shake a four-game skid on Tuesday when they travel to Osawatomie.
I think theyre ready to play, Weide said. Osawatomie is a young team but they have a lot of talent coming up. Were going to have to be on our A-game if we want to win.
