The Iola Hormigas inaugural season will come to an end on the road after wrapping up their final game at Allen Community College Tuesday night at Alumni Park.
Winless since the all-star break, the Hormigas hope to snap their five-game losing streak before wrapping up the year on the road at North Platte and Garden City respectively.
“This was a tough one to take tonight,” said Iola Hormigas coach Derrick Dominguez, following Monday’s 19-3 loss to the Blackwell Flycatchers. “All we can do is show up tomorrow and be ready to play. Showing up is the hard part. We’re going to be alright.”
To make the postseason, the Hormigas (12-28) must win at least six of their last eight games. The North Platte 80s (23-18) and Blackwell (22-18) secured their spots in the playoffs as either the second seed in the Mountain North Division or first place in the wild card race with the Alpine Cowboys (22-22) occupying second.
Barring several cataclysmic outcomes for the aforementioned teams, the Hormigas’ season will come to an end July 30 but Coach Dominguez believes his players will play to their full potential in their final week of action. As teams look ahead to potential roster changes for next season, mere percentage points in their batting average or earned run average may determine whether a player takes the field or returns to their couch next summer.
“You can either let these last seven games tear up your batting average or you can go out there and get a little boost on next year,” Dominguez said. “It’s all on them. It’s hard to stay focused, but if you want your stats to stay where they are you have to do everything right until the last game.”
Tuesday’s 19-3 loss to Blackwell did no favors for any of the Hormigas’ stats. Returning from the all-star break, starting pitcher Jacob Slocum held his own early, but the Flycatchers slowly chipped away with a pair of two-run innings in the first and third, then busting the game wide open with five runs in the fourth. Slocum exited after the fourth inning with a team-leading three strikeouts but also allowed 11 runs on 10 hits. Reliever Brandin Nixon slowed the bleeding while allowing six runs over three innings and reliever Tyler Blair allowed a pair of runs over two innings. However, without run support, the Hormigas faced a double-digit deficit by the fifth inning.
“They started off with a leadoff home run and their dugout was electric from the start,” Dominguez said. “They just kept capitalizing all game, and we did not have an answer. That’s how the game went most of the way. We fell short and the score shows.”
The Hormigas seemed in a dogfight early after first baseman Devin Radar plated a runner on an RBI double. But Iola didn’t score again until an RBI by outfielder Xander Nabors in the fifth.
The game was all but decided by then. Nabors and second baseman Oscar Galvez tied for the team lead in hits with Nabors successful in 2 of 4 at-bats while Galves hit 2 of 2 with a pair of walks. Nabors and Radar tied for the team lead in RBIs with two each.
Following Tuesday’s game, the Hormigas wrap up the season on the road Thursday, Friday and Saturday at North Platte, then face Mountain North Division champion Garden City Sunday, Monday and Tuesday for their final series of the summer.
“We got to start packing it up. Wednesday, we check out of here,” Dominguez said. “It’s been great. We’re really going to miss this place. Right after every game when we’re on the road, we’re rushing to get back to Iola. We love this place and they take care of us here. I’m thankful for that.”
