High School Softball: Lady Eagles 19, Fillies 12; Fillies 12, Lady Eagles 8
What started the season as the Iola softballs biggest weakness has become one of the teams biggest strengths over the past several weeks.
The 10-6 (2-6) Fillies have won five of their last six after a split at Wellsville Tuesday night.
Iola lost game one, 19-12, and won game two, 12-8. Between the two games, the Fillies recorded 29 hits.
This is probably the best hitting team that weve played all year, head coach Chris Weide said. So for us to keep up with them scoring-wise shows the strides were making.
Early in the season, the Fillies scored five or fewer runs five times but as of late, Iolas bats have been red hot.
We really struggled early in the year, Weide said. And that may be on me for not having more live hitting earlier in the year. But weve said it all along, we really thought that once they got enough reps, the hitting would come around. The last two or three series weve really been able to score. And tonight we went up against a couple of really good pitchers. For us to do that really shows what this team could be capable of doing.
In game one, Iola trailed 7-2 after the second inning but a 10-run third inning gave the Fillies a five-run lead.
The Lady Eagles responded right back and scored six runs in the bottom of the third and then another four in the bottom of the fourth to take a five-run lead of their own.
The Fillies bats went cold after that and while Wellsville drove in two more runs in the bottom of the sixth.
We got down 7-2 in the first game before we came back and got a lead, Weide said. Now we didnt hold it but Im just proud of our fight and the big strides weve made.
Freshman Kelsey Schinstock took the loss, allowing 19 runs (12 earned) on 14 hits and six walks with a strikeout.
Senior Chloe Gardner led the way with three hits while junior Paige Burrough and sophomore Kelsey Morrison each had two.
Things started similarly in the second game. After a 1-1 first inning, Iola shot out to a 6-1 lead in the top of the second.
Wellsville plated three in the bottom of the frame to get within two, but after two scoreless innings, Iola pushed its lead to four in the top of the fifth. Wellsville got as close as one run after scoring two in both the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings.
Three more runs in the top of the seventh sealed the deal for Iola.
