The Iola Mustangs snapped a four-game losing streak with a sweep of Pioneer League rival Wellsville during Tuesday’s doubleheader, 13-1 and 10-0.
Despite having the Pioneer League title locked up, the Mustangs are not turning their attention to the postseason just yet as their next couple of games against Bishop Ward could have implications on their regional tournament seeding.
“They have a good team. They have a lot of good players up there,” Iola coach Levi Ashmore said. “We’re excited for that test Friday. We get to play a team in our classification and always up there towards the top. That will give us a good idea where we are at.”
Wrapping up Pioneer League play Tuesday, Iola pulled away from Wellsville with a four-run fourth inning and a seven-run seventh inning. Freshman pitcher Kale Pratt put Iola on the scoreboard with an RBI single in the opening frame, then sophomore third baseman Austin Crooks added another run in the third on an RBI single.
The Mustangs landed a barrage of blows in the fourth on RBI doubles by Pratt and senior first baseman Grady Doughtery. In the seventh, they batted around the lineup as if scoring at will on RBIs from Crooks, sophomore outfielder Jase Herrmann, senior outfielder Easton Weseloh, second baseman Reed Clift and junior shortstop Nic Bauer.
“It felt really good. I’ve been in the weirdest slump in my life,” said Dougherty, whose three RBIs tied Pratt for the team lead.
“I wasn’t striking out a whole lot the last three doubleheaders — I think once in my last 20 at-bats I got two hits. It just felt weird. Everything felt weird. It was good to get in some gaps tonight.”
Senior Gavin Jones picked up the win while tying Pratt and junior reliever Tre Wilson for the team lead in strikeouts with two each. Herrmann picked up the win in the finale with three strikeouts over four innings while Weseloh picked up the save with a pair of strikeouts while coming on in the relief in the final inning of the 10-0 mercy-rule victory. 
“It’s a Trevor Bauer mentality. I just go in there with confidence,” Pratt said. “I know I have a good defense. I throw it and if they hit it I know Jase or [outfielder Lucas Maier] will go and get it.”
Herrman was the first to cross home plate in the finale following a Bauer sacrifice fly in the opening frame. Iola capitalized on a slew of costly walks to slowly pull away with Dougherty’s second-inning, tw0-run homer being the breaking-point as the Mustangs poured on the runs from there. 
Dougherty ended the game with a team-leading three RBIs, followed by Crooks with two. With the win, the Mustangs improve to 14-6 overall and undefeated in the Pioneer League Conference at 12-0. First pitch for Friday’s doubleheader are 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
