Iola High’s baseball team will take another swing at the postseason Friday afternoon.
The Mustangs were just getting settled into their Class 4A Regional Semifinal against Labette County Wednesday, when monsoon-like weather put an abrupt halt to the proceedings.
The game was suspended in the top of the second inning of the scoreless affair, with senior Bradyn Cole on the mound.
Play is scheduled to resume at 1 p.m. Friday at the Allen Community College baseball field, with the Iola-Labette County winner slated to play Bishop Miege immediately thereafter for the 4A regional title.
Miege defeated Fort Scott, 9-1, in their earlier game before the rains arrived.
“It’s disappointing,” Iola head coach Ryan Latta said. “We were ready to go.”
If there’s a bright spot, it’s that the game was halted early on, Latta said, which means Cole will be able to take the mound again on Friday when play resumes.
That will be key because postseason baseball success almost always depends on reliable pitching. Keeping Cole in the game will allow Latta to keep his other frontline pitchers, Ryker Curry and Nathan Louk, in reserve.
The regional winner will advance to next week’s state tournament in Salina.
