After a tough loss in game one’s doubleheader against Parsons Tuesday, Iola High’s softball team came back to play their most complete game of the season. Iola lost that first game 22-19, but won 13-1 in game two.
Despite the loss in game one, coach Melissa Stiffler was happy with the high-scoring offense.
“I told the girls I was really proud of that. We had some silly errors that cost us the game. I don’t know how many walks we had,” Stiffler said. “That was one of the big differences in the second game. We played the same team, but we didn’t walk 20 batters. Sydney [Wade] just didn’t have it the first game, but she came back and said she was really tired of walking them. So, she came back and shut them down.”
Wade was lifted in game one by Baylea Thompson. Neither really were all that effective. Wade gave up 13 runs and Thompson gave up nine. But, in game two, Wade shut down Parsons’ offense and only allowed one run.
In game one’s scoring-fest, Iola trailed 22-13 in the bottom of the seventh, but didn’t go down without a fight.
Wade started things off with an infield single. Jaydn Sigg reached base on an error. Riley Murry hit an RBI-single. Katie Shields followed with a triple, knocking in both Murry and Sigg.
Scout Rush brought in Shields for the RBI on a fielder’s choice for the first out. Shelby Reno flew out for the second out. But, the Fillies didn’t go quietly.
With those two outs, Iola still scored two more runs. Taylor Sell reached on a single and made it to second on a stolen base. Thompson brought her in on an RBI-single.
The last play of the game showed how sloppily each team played. But, it was a perfect way to wrap up the 41-run game.
Ashlie Shields hit a ball to deep right-center field, hitting up against the fence. Thompson’s pinch-runner, Katelynn Olsten scored on the play. Shields had an easy triple, but instead of stopping she was waved home. She slid into the plate, but the ball beat her there for the out. Parsons got the 22-19 win.
In game two, Iola answered back in full force.
“The second game, I was really proud because they just kept hitting,” Stiffler said. “They were really hitting the ball. That’s one thing we’ve been working on. We’ve set up the pitching machine every practice and that’s what we’ve wanted to do.”
Wade was back on the mound, this time getting the best of Parsons’ lineup. The only run she gave up came in the first inning. Wade only allowed three more base runners after the first.
Iola’s offense continued into game two.
Wade reached on an error and Sigg reached on a single. Each came around to score in the first inning.
In the second inning, Iola added three more runs. Micaiah Larney hit a double. Reno walked. Shields hit them both in on a triple, then came into score on a wild pitch. Iola led 5-1.
The Fillies took a commanding lead in the third inning.
Katie Shields started things off with a single. Sell reached on an error. Chloe Gardner and Reno each hit RBI-singles. Ashlie Shields, again, had an RBI-triple. Just like that, Iola led 10-1.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Fillies only needed one run for the run-limit to take effect in the fifth. They got insurance and scored three.
Sell, Larney and Reno each reached base on an error. They also all came around to score on errors.
Iola was three outs away from the win. After a leadoff single, the Fillies pulled off a great double play. The ball was hit out to center field. Katie Shields brought down the catch. Parsons’ base runner was running with contact, and Shields threw the ball back to Murry at first base for the second out. The game ended on ground-out back to Wade on the mound.
“We just want to keep it going,” Stiffler said. “The girls were having fun out there, I couldn’t ask for better attitudes. They could have laid down and died in the first game. But, they came back and started hitting the ball.”
Iola (3-7) travels to Neodesha on Thursday for a doubleheader starting at 4:30 p.m.
Fillies bats wake up in offensive display at the plate
