GARNETT — Iola’s defeat in the first round of the regional playoffs came at the hands of rival Anderson County on a patch of ground that once resembled a softball diamond, but by the time a week’s worth of rain had gotten to it, more closely resembled a barnyard.
The rain had pounded the field all week causing the game to be moved from Tuesday to Thursday. Footing was tough for the coaches in their coach’s boxes, let alone for the players on the field.
Iola coach Chris Weide was quick to point out following the 7-5 defeat that both teams had to play on the same surface.
“My theory is that both teams have to play in the same conditions,” Weide said. “It was in our head at the first of the game, but really we didn’t get any bad hops.”
While Weide is correct that both teams played on the same field, it is hard to believe the surface had no impact on the game.
In the doubleheader against Anderson County earlier this season, freshman pitcher Sierra Snavely and the Fillies were dominant. They won the first game 11-1 and in the second game, Snavely threw a no-hitter to beat the Bulldogs 10-0. In each game the mercy rule was enforced due to the lopsided 10-run games.
On Thursday, it was a much different game. Snavely seemed to struggle with her footing and her control suffered because of it.
The freshman allowed four walks in her seven innings after allowing only 16 free passes all season going into the game. The Bulldogs also got to Snavely for nine hits on the way to their seven runs.
Anderson County plated one run in the first inning, but Iola was saved from surrendering more on a brilliant running catch from right fielder Kersia Brunner which saved at least one run. She ran in to catch a ball off her shoe-tops then fired to Sydney Wade at second base to record a double-play.
“Kersia, that girl stepped up and she is one of our best players right now,” Weide said. “She saved us. She made a great almost diving play to double them up, if it wouldn’t have been for that, it could have gotten out of hand early.”
The Iola defense wasn’t always as solid throughout the game. The rain and mud seemed to affect the Fillies in the field as well. They committed six errors total and normally sure-handed catcher Ashlie Shields had a team-high two errors. She had had only four errors all seasons entering Thursday’s contest.
“We just picked the worst time to come out flat,” Weide said. “Playoff time, you got to come out ready to go and we weren’t.”
Katelyn Olsten, Riley Murry, Scout Rush and Snavely were credited with the other errors for the Fillies.
“It showed that we haven’t been on the field for a while,” Weide said. “We had a lot of rain in Iola so I don’t think we’ve been on the field since last Friday. I think that really showed.”
Iola came back with a run in the first inning and added another in the second to take a 2-1 lead going into the third inning.
Anderson County answered with a run in the third to tie the game up at two, then they opened it up in the fourth frame with four runs and took a 6-2 lead.
