The Iola Mustangs’ run to the State Tournament has been recognized with a plethora of individual awards.
The highest honor was given to sophomore ace Derek Bycroft, who was selected as the First Team All-State closer.
Although Bycroft spent most of the year as the team’s No. 1 pitcher and compiled a 1.42 ERA, 50 strikeouts and 6-2 record, Bycroft came out of the bullpen in the team’s biggest victory of the season to seal a trip to the state tournament against Osawatomie in the regional final in Osawatomie.
“I was really happy,” Iola coach Mark Percy said. “There was the kid from Holcomb (who is going to the University of Kansas) and the two Baxter Springs kids, who won the state championship last year… and then a Concordia kid who won Pitcher of the Year. Those were the four starting pitcher selections and he was right with them, just a vote behind. They didn’t have anyone who was actually a closer up for closer so they try and get all the best kids on first team so they made him the first-team closer instead of a second-team starter.”
The third baseman, when he isn’t pitching, hit .279 this season with four doubles and a homer.
Senior No. 2 starter Ben Cooper was also recognized and was named All-State Second Team as a pitcher.
While Cooper doesn’t blow hitters away quite the same way Bycroft does, the senior was equally effective with a 1.20 ERA in his 52.1 innings with 46 strikeouts and a 6-1 record.
“Ben has been awesome for us,” Percy said. “He pitches more to contact than Derek does and he complements him well with their pitches. Ben is so smart out there and as I’ve said both those guys compete like crazy and that is the best thing about them.”
Cooper also played shortstop when he wasn’t pitching, and although he only hit .186 this season, he was the leader of the Mustang infield and was a strong glove at shortstop.
The final All-State honoree was junior Ethan Tavarez.
Tavarez was an honorable mention selection as an utility player.
“He had a good year,” Percy said. “When we talked about him, we really factored in his pitching too, because he helped us a ton as a pitcher.”
While Tavarez played catcher for a majority of the season as he helped Bycroft and Cooper to their stellar seasons, Tavarez got the regional final start against Osawatomie with Bycroft unable to pitch a whole game with his arm injury and Cooper pitching the semifinal.
Tavarez was a solid presence on the mound all season with a 2.13 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 23 innings.
At the plate, Tavarez batted .284 with three doubles, a home run and a team-high 15 RBIs.
ALL-LEAGUE
Bycroft and Cooper were each selected to the Pioneer League’s First Team with Tavarez and freshman Calvin Delich making the Second Team.
Delich played right field for the Mustangs and batted lead-off.
He led the Mustangs with a .339 batting average and had 10 steals.
