ALTAMONT — Iola High’s Mustangs have their destiny in their own hands in pursuit of the Southeast Kansas League championship.
The Mustangs did their part on Friday, sweeping a make-up doubleheader over host Labette County High’s Grizzlies. Iola won 5-4, then rolled to a 9-2 victory over the Grizzlies (3-9, 4-10).
Iola enters the final week of the 2011 baseball season locked in battle for the SEK title. This afternoon the Mustangs travel to Fort Scott to take on the Tigers. Both teams are 10-2 in SEK play. Iola is 14-2 overall while Fort Scott, which split a non-league doubleheader at Girard Friday, is 11-4.
Columbus tightened the four-team race for the top spot in the league by defeating Pittsburg twice, 6-2 and 1-0, Saturday. Columbus is 11-3 in league action and 11-5 overall while Pittsburg, the defending SEK champion, is 9-3 and 11-5.
The Mustangs have to take care of business on the road today. They host Pittsburg Thursday.
“We used a lot of guys to pitch Friday to save arms for this week’s games,” said Mark Percy, Mustang head coach.
In the first game, Iola broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the fifth. Drew Walden, Devon Conner and Levi Ashmore had consecutive singles. Jerrik Sigg pushed a run home on a sacrifice fly and Corey Taylor reached on an error.
Iola got what would prove to be the winning run in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Clint Heffern singled and scored on a double by Sigg.
Labette County scored three runs in its half of the inning for the final 5-4 margin.
Sigg, Heffern, Mason Coons and Ashmore pitched for Iola. They combined to give up 10 hits and two walks.
Walden had two singles and Sigg doubled. Hitting a single each were Ashmore, Heffern, Taylor, Braden Larson and Conner.
In the second game, Iola led 3-2 when it took advantage of three walks and two hit batters in the seventh. The Mustangs scored six runs for a 9-2 win.
Taylor, Jarred Latta and Ashmore pitched for the Mustangs. They allowed 10 hits and issued four walks.
Walden hit a single and a double. Sigg had a single.
Mustangs deck Grizzlies
