PARSONS — Iola High’s softball team continued its torrid play of late Tuesday, picking up its fourth and fifth wins in a row in convincing fashion.
The Fillies steamrolled past host Parsons, 14-3 and 18-3 to improve to 5-6 on the season.
Iola won’t have much time to rest on its laurels. The Fillies are back in action on Thursday at home against Neodesha for another doubleheader. The Bluestreaks carry a 10-2 record, “so we’ve gotta come out firing on all cylinders,” head coach Chris Weide said.
Iola followed a similar prescription for both victories against the Vikings: a dose of solid pitching, pounding out plenty of hits, and taking advantage of Parsons miscues afield.
Kailey Schinstock drilled a two-run single in the first inning of the opener before Iola erupted for a six-run third inning to take control. Lauryn Holloway’s RBI single was followed by a Parsons error, which led to a passed ball, and a 6-0 lead. Zareona Pulley then drove in Maci Miller with a ground ball before Aysha Houk drilled a two-run double to cap the inning.
The Fillies tacked on six more in the fifth. Pulley singled and scored on Houk’s base hit. An error allowed Houk to circle the bases and score before catcher Lauryn Holloway drove in battery mate Reece Murry with a single back up the middle to make it 12-1.
Maci Miller’s two-run double followed, part of a 12-hit onslaught.
“I’m really impressed with our aggressiveness at the plate,” Weide said. “We don’t try to do too much.”
Meanwhile, Murry cruised to the complete game victory. She struck out eight and surrendered seven hits to improve to 3-0 on the season.
Every Fillies starter scored at least one run in the victory, and eight of the nine had at least one hit.
Houk led the way with three hits, including a double, with three RBIs. Schinstock and Holloway both singled twice. Jenna Miller and Maci Miller both had doubles. Jenna Curry, Pulley and Murry all singled once.
THE DRUMBEAT continued into the second game, as Iola tallied up 17 hits, including a monster game by Schinstock.
The senior, who has signed to play softball at Allen Community College next spring, went 4-for-4 with a home run, double and seven RBIs.
Through Iola’s first 11 games, she’s batting a mind-boggling .611 with 22 hits in 36 at bats, with 19 RBIs.
Holloway’s RBI grounder with the bases loaded got things rolling in the first, before Chloe Sell drove in Pulley with a sac fly to tie the score at 2-2.
Curry and Murry singled to start the third before Schinstock drove in both with a single. Parsons misplayed a Holloway bunt to send Schinstock home for a 5-2 lead. Another error plated Holloway for the fourth run of the inning.
