Iola High’s Mustangs had the defending Southeast Kansas League champion Independence High Bulldogs right where they wanted them. The Mustangs led 6-4 and needed just two outs to win Tuesday’s first game.
Unfortunately, the Mustangs couldn’t close the door. The Bulldogs produced the two tying runs.
“We had every chance to win this game. We had a runner at second base with one out in the seventh but couldn’t get the run in,” said Mark Percy, Mustang head coach.
After forcing the game to extra innings, Independence went on to score four runs in the eighth and keep the Mustangs scoreless. The Bulldogs won 10-6.
They swept the SEK doubleheader, winning the second game 6-2.
The Mustangs are now 4-4 in league and overall. They play at Parsons Monday.
Iola’s junior varsity plays at Burlington Thursday and at home Friday against Pittsburg.
Iola scored three runs in the first inning of the opener at Riverside Park. Levi Ashmore led off with a walk and Ryan Latta singled.
Connor Frazell, Iola’s starting pitcher, reached on an error as a run scored. Latta ended up at third. Two ground outs brought in two runs.
Independence went ahead when it scored four runs in the second. Iola tied the game up in the fourth when Clint Heffern doubled, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Devon Conner and scored on a ground out by Mason Coons.
Ryan Latta singled to open the fifth and scored on a passed ball. With two gone, Jerrik Sigg singled and Corey Taylor walked. Cl. Heffern had an RBI single.
Frazell went 61⁄3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits, five walks and three hit batters. He struck out one. Cl. Heffern pitched 12⁄3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts.
Ryan Latta had two singles and a double and Cl. Heffern had a single and a double. Ashmore, Sigg and Coons each had a single.
Independence (4-0, 4-2) went up 5-0 after three innings of the second game. Iola scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings and Independence added a run in the seventh.
Taylor was Iola’s starting pitcher, going three innings and allowing five runs on six hits and six walks with three strikeouts. Sigg pitched four innings, giving up one run on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
Frazell, Sigg and Ashmore each had a double. R. Latta and Cl. Heffern had a single each.
“I like what we have in the team. We’re swinging the bats well. We just need to be more consistent pitching. We give up too many free passes to the bases with walks, hit batters then throw in a few errors,” Percy said.
“Once we get our pitchers throwing more strikes and make a few more plays in the field, we’ll be pretty solid and competitive.”
Mustangs drop two SEK games to the Bulldogs
