CHANUTE — It was a painful learning experience for Iola High’s Fillies.
Thursday’s season-opening doubleheader at Chanute provided too many errors for head coach Vince Coons’ liking in 8-1 and 13-3 losses.
“We cannot leave our pitchers out there having to get extra out after out after out,” Coons said. “We have to be exceptional on defense to support each other.”
The lessons came early and often.
Chanute plated five runs in the first inning of the opener despite hitting only two balls out of the infield. The Blue Comets were aided by two infield singles, two other fielders choices in which Iola failed to get an out, an error and two passed balls.
The Fillies, meanwhile, got only three hits against Chanute starter Sierra Thompson.
Iola’s lone run came in the top of the second when Shelby Reno walked and scored on Katie Shields’ one-out double. Shields was tagged out trying to move to third on a fly ball to right, ending the inning.
Iola had only two other hits after that, Reno’s two-out single in the fourth and Mackenzie Weseloh’s two-out single in the sixth.
Hannah Endicott took the loss, surrendering 10 hits and four walks with five strikeouts. Only two of the runs were earned.
Chanute’s offense hit high gear in the second game. The Blue Comets scored three in the first, four in the second, one in the third and five in the fourth.
The Fillies, too, made some offensive noise, rapping out seven hits and delivering several other line drives and hard grounders at Blue Comet defenders.
Fillies drop two to kick off 2014
