Sandwiched between a pair of rainouts, the Iola Hormigas fell 10-5 to the Blackwell Flycatchers Friday in Iola’s only action of a previously scheduled busy weekend.
A six-run sixth inning made the difference as the Flycatchers handed the Hormigas their 17th loss of the season and little time to make up for lost ground with a month left in the season.
Blackwell jumped out to an early lead and steadily added to it until busting the floodgates open in the sixth while Iola’s steady run production was not enough.
Rookie pitcher Jacob Bosse took the loss despite tallying a team-leading four strikeouts over five innings with closer Jacob Slocomb tallying one strikeout over three innings of work.
Outfielder Ramses Velasquez and catcher Nicholas Chavez tied for the team lead in hits with two each. Velasquez tied first baseman Colin Sepulveda for the team lead in RBIs with one each. While leading Iola in hits and RBIs, Velasquez also posted his sixth homer of the season.
With the win, the Flycatchers have a three and a half game lead in the Pecos League wild card race. They put a bit more distance between themselves and the Hormigas, who are seven games behind in the wild card. Iola (7-17) is also 16 games back behind the Garden City Wind, who they host Monday and Tuesday at Allen Community College. First pitch for Tuesday’s game is 6 p.m.
