Not bad for their first games in very cool weather. Iola High’s junior varsity baseball team defeated visiting Labette County High’s Grizzlies twice Monday at Riverside Park.
The Mustangs outlasted the Grizzlies 8-6 in the opener. Shelton Reno took the win on the mound. Reno worked 4 1/3 innings of the five-inning game. He allowed five runs on five hits and two walks plus struck out two.
Trent Latta got the final two outs and was charged with a run.
Iola scored four runs in the first inning to grab a 4-2 lead. Labette County scored once in the second. The Mustangs added two runs in the third and two more in the fourth.
Tyler Clubine led the offense with three singles. Shae Beasley doubled. Latta, Derrick Weir and John Whitworth each had a single.
In the second game, the Mustangs powered post the Grizzlies. They took advantage of six walks in the second inning as they ripped the ball and scored seven runs. Weir had a three-run double in the inning.
Iola scored a run in the third then had a five-run fourth to close things out.
Aaron Barclay picked up the victory on the mound. He pitched 3 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball, giving up two hits and five walks. He struck out three. Latta came on in relief and allowed one run on one hit and struck out four in 1 2/3 innings.
“We were aggressive with the bats and made a lot of contact,” said Mark Percy, IHS head baseball coach.
“Our pitchers did a good job, throwing strikes. We made some nice defensive plays.”
Percy said there were some errors in the field but that was to be expected for the first games. Overall, he and assistant coach Sherman Ashmore were pleased with the junior varsity’s performance.
In the second game, Weir had three singles and a double, driving in four runs. Eric Heffern and Barclay each had a double. Tyler Tomlinson and Clubine each had a single.
Mustang JV opens with two wins
