After reaching their highest high with Tuesday’s 11th-inning, walk-off homer in their home finale, the Iola Hormigas may have reached their lowest low with Thursday’s 25-2 loss to the North Platte 80s.
Despite strong individual performances in the batter’s box, the Hormigas fell victim to poorly timed errors and strong hitting from the 80s, with all but four North Platte players registering RBIs. Those four were mostly pinch hitters and pitchers.
The Hormigas saw a glimpse of hope with a run in the fifth inning after falling behind 8-0. Those hopes were quickly dashed as North Platte responded with 12 runs in their next at-bat.
Starter Jacob Strobel took the loss with a team-leading six strikeouts over four innings, allowing eight runs on four hits. After reliever Javion Rodricks gave up 14 runs on 11 hits to open the fifth, Iola manager Derrick Dominguez opted for Tommy Carr — recently brought down from Bravos De Leon of the Liga De Beisibol. Carr clotted the wound with four strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings, but the damage was already done.
Following his game-winning home run Tuesday, outfielder Zach Tangmar kept his hot streak going by registering Iola’s only RBI while hitting in 3 of 4 at-bats. Trangmar tied first baseman Devin Radar for the team lead in hits with three each, as Radar went 3 for 5. Shortstop Antuan Franco and outfielder Xander Nabors had two hits each.
The loss mathematically eliminated the Hormigas from the postseason.
With five games left, Iola (13-29) cannot catch the Alpine Cowboys (23-22) for second in the wild card race. North Platte (24-19) is in a battle with the Blackwell Flycatchers (22-20) for second in the Mountain North Division — the higher seed — or first in the wild card race.
Although out of the postseason, the Hormigas can still play spoiler, with games slated against the 80s on Friday and Saturday.
Iola wraps up the season on the road against the Garden City Wind with a three-game series starting Sunday.
