OSAWATOMIE — Iola High head coach Ryan Latta was a bit worried this week.
The Mustangs, playing on back-to-back days, had swept Santa Fe Trail Tuesday, but needed to win two more against the Trojans in order to secure a share of the Pioneer League championship
“That’s been our No. 1 goal — winning League,” Latta said.
The problem is, unless a team has a well-stocked pitching staff, winning four in a row over two days is exceedingly difficult at any level.
Worry no more.
Iola’s Nathan Louk tossed a three-hit shutout in a 16-0 romp to start Wednesday’s doubleheader, and Jarrett Herrmann picked up the baton from there, allowing just two hits over four innings of a 15-2 whitewash.
The sweep puts the Mustangs atop the Pioneer League standings at season’s end, along with rival Anderson County.
“Now we’re ready for Goal No. 2,” Latta said. “Regionals.”
Class 4A Regional play begins next week, with locations and seedings still to be determined.
Iola (15-4) is riding a nine-game winning streak into the postseason.
“We’ve just gotta keep it rolling, getting after it in practice,” Latta said.
Iola jumped out early in the opener and never looked back. Dillon Bycroft’s single scored Dillon Slaven in the top of the first before the Mustangs plated two in the second on doubles by Kole Rogers and Louk.
The floodgates opened in the top of the third. Three walks led to a sacrifice fly off the bat of Eli Smith, a two-run single by Kole Rogers and an RBI triple from Ryker Curry. Louk’s single drove in Curry. Cole singled for another run, Bycroft and Brandon McKarnin followed with back-to-back doubles. Another runner came home on a Trojan fielding error, and Rogers and Curry each had RBI singles in the frame for a 16-0 lead.
Louk made sure Osawatomie had no answers. He struck out six in his three-inning performance.
Meanwhile, Rogers was 3-for-3 with a double, Curry had a single and triple, Louk and Bycroft each had a single and double, McKarnin also doubled and Cole singled.
“Louk did what Louk does,” Latta said. “He controlled the strike zone.”
THE MUSTANGS spotted Osawatomie a quick 1-0 lead in the nightcap before erupting for five in the second and not looking back.
