Iola baseball went down to Neodesha and did what a team like the Mustangs should do to a team like the one-win Blue Streaks. They decimated them.
Iola moved to a perfect 12-0 after getting a 24-1 four-inning win in game one followed by a 18-0 three-inning win in game two.
Its so easy to come out in a game like this and play flat, head coach Mark Percy said. And credit to our guys, they came ready to play.
In game one, Neodesha got its first and only run of the series on the board in the first inning after Iola scored six.
The Mustangs scored a run in the second and four in the third before unleashing a 13-run barrage in the top of the fourth to secure the win.
Senior Derek Bycroft earned the win, allowing a run on a hit and a walk with four strikeouts in his three innings pitched. Sophomore Nathan Louk came in for the final inning and allowed nothing while striking out two.
Bycroft, junior Brady Wiggin, senior Kane Rogers, junior Casen Barker and junior Noah Ashmore each had two hits in the win. The Mustangs were walked 12 times in the four innings led by three walks for junior Zane Whitney.
The biggest thing in a game like this is going up there and not swinging at everything, Percy said. You want to because you want to hit, but if theyre walking you, theyre walking you. Getting yourself out isnt going to help us any. But for the most part, we did a good job patience-wise.
Game two went similarly if not better for the Mustangs.
After a five-run first inning, the Mustangs put up 11 in the second to go up 16-0.
By then, they had already cleared the mark to end the game on a three-inning run-rule but for good measure, Iola added on another two runs in the top of the third to bring its final total on the day to 42 runs scored in the seven-total innings played.
Junior Cal Leonard threw two perfect innings to start, striking out five. Sophomore Bradyn Cole came in for the final inning and while he struggled some, walking three, he managed to get the outs he needed and kept the Blue Streaks off of the board.
Junior Calvin Delich had a three-hit game followed by two each for Wiggin and Ashmore. The Mustangs were walked 11 times in game two, including two walks each for senior Blake Ashmore, Wiggin and Leonard.
We came in knowing that this was a game that we were probably going to win but we wanted to make sure we felt good about it, Percy said. And you dont want to walk away, win or lose, feeling bad because you didnt show up. I dont think tonight was our best outing by any means but I thought we did what we needed to do and played hard.
Iolas games versus Chanute that were originally scheduled for Friday were postponed once again due to an umpire shortage. The next time that the Mustangs will be in action will be on Tuesday when they host No. 7 in 3A Wellsville whos 12-2 so far this season.
We respect them, Percy said of Wellsville. Theyre solid and they have good players. Were going to have to play, it isnt going to be like tonight. Were going to have to play harder and smarter than them and then were going to have to have some good at-bats. Theyre a good team. I expect two great baseball games.
