CHANUTE — Go long enough into any softball season, and a team invariably will encounter hitting or pitching slumps.
For Iola High, the struggles in 2024 have been with its fielding.
The Mustangs were plagued by errors Friday, commiting 11 in a 14-4 loss to host Chanute.
“It’s snowballing on us. Where it’s not just an error in an inning, but ballooning into three or four,” said Iola head coach Chris Weide. “We’re letting the previous play stick with us. We don’t move on. We’ve got to work on that.”
The Mustang offense was able to take advantage of a few Blue Comet miscues as well, but also left the bases loaded in the first inning and other rallies fell short of what could have been.
“We talked to them about having confidence at the plate, and we got girls on,” Weide said. “But we could have gotten to them even more.”
Zoie Hesse put Iola in front in the top of the first with an RBI single, but could not increase the lead.
Meanwhile, Iola’s Elza Clift was able to keep Chanute off the scoreboard in its half of the first, despite a pair of errors and walks to load the bases.
But the fielding errors were too much to overcome from there.
Four such miscues played a role in Chanute’s five-run second inning. Two more errors in the third led to three more runs and an 8-1 Chanute lead.
The Mustangs struck back in the top of the fourth. Kaysin Crusinbery singled and moved to second on a walk to Kinsey Schinstock. Leeann Maloney moved up the runners with a sacrifice bunt, paving the way for Harper Desmarteau to drive in a run when her line drive turned into a Blue Comet error.
A leadoff error and stolen base turned into Chanute’s ninth run of the game in its half of the fourth.
Iola’s last challenge came in the top of the fifth. Hesse singled and Brooklyn Holloway’s liner to center was ruled an error. Kyndal Bycroft singled home Holloway to make it 9-4, and still with nobody out. But Chanute retired the next three batters in order to end the threat.
The Blue Comets put the game away with five in the bottom of the fifth.
Clift scattered six hits over four innings, while Hesse came on in relief. She gave up four hits.
