High School Baseball: Mustangs 10, Trojans 4; Mustangs 12, Trojans 0
Last season even at their most successful the Iola baseball team struggled to score runs. The pitching was always there but if the Mustangs had to make up for more than a couple of runs, Iola players, coaches and fans got pretty nervous.
The 2018 Mustangs do not appear to share this affliction. This Iola team is a run-scoring machine and showed that prowess off once again in their road sweep of Osawatomie on Tuesday.
Iola beat the Trojans 10-4 in game one and 12-0 in game two. With the sweep, the Mustangs move to 5-1 so far this season and 4-0 in Pioneer League league.
We played pretty well and they got some of their best players hurt, Percy said. Were fairly deep but I think when they lost those guys, they played what they had and we were just a much better team. But well take it.
In game one, the Mustangs jumped out to a quick 3-0 after the first 2.5 innings. In the bottom of the third, Osawatomie managed to get four runs across and take the lead thanks in part to a botched call at first base with two outs.
Instead of keeping the shutout alive for starter Derek Bycroft, the Mustangs saw a slight collapse.
But two innings later, the Mustangs picked up the tying run and an inning later, scored six to fully show their dominance.
They believe, Percy said. If were within striking distance our guys feel like we can get it tied up. And thats a good feeling because some teams just quit but our guys hung in there.
Bycroft got the win, going six innings allowing just four runs (none earned) on three hits with two walks while striking out 12 Trojans.
Bycroft also led the way offensively, scoring three runs on two hits followed right behind by Isaac Vink who put up two runs on two hits.
Whatever drama game one held was non-existent in game two.
Iola jumped out to a 2-0 lead and scored five in the third, four in the fourth and one in the fifth to get the win.
Starter Ethan Tavarez threw 2.2 innings of one-hit ball while striking out six and Cal Leonard came in after and threw another 2.1 innings of hit ball to close out the game.
It was Bycroft and Vink again in game two, each recording two hits and a combined seven RBIs.
The Mustangs will try to keep their hot streak going when they travel to Prairie View on Thursday to face a struggling Buffalos team.
