Iola High’s Mustangs were locked in a tight semifinal game with Spring Hill High’s Broncos Friday. They were right there at the door.
“We just weren’t able to get the hit we needed in the last couple of innings,” said Mark Percy, Mustang head coach, as Iola dropped a 4-3 decision to Spring Hill.
The loss was tough because it came in a 2010 Kansas Class 4A Regional Tournament semifinal. The tournament was hosted by Osawatomie High but had to move to Iola Friday because of wet field conditions.
Teams played the semifinal games and the regional championship game on the Allen County Community College field.
“We had opportunities in a good game to win it. We made a few mental mistakes defensively and running the bases,” Percy said.
Spring Hill went on to win the regional championship. The Broncos beat Osawatomie 5-2. Osawatomie had defeated Ottawa 4-2 in the other semifinal.
Jerrik Sigg, a sophomore, pitched a complete game
for Iola. He allowed seven hits, hit one batter and struck out five.
The Mustangs scored first. It came in the first inning when Levi Ashmore drew a leadoff walk. With one out, Connor Frazell was safe on a fielder’s choice and came around to score on a single by Chris Heffern.
Ashmore walked again this time with two gone in the third. He was able to score on a single by Ryan Latta. Iola led 2-1 after three innings.
Spring Hill produced a tying run in the fifth. Iola came right back to go up 3-2 in the sixth.
Ryan Latta was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by Frazell.
The Broncos used two doubles and a hit batter to score two runs in the sixth. Down by one, Iola had two runners on with two gone.
“We had Ryan Latta, the guy we wanted up there
to bat. He hit the ball hard but right at the shortstop. They got the force out at second and won,” Percy said.
Iola finished its best season ever 12-8. The Mustangs lose Frazell, Latta, Heffern and Michael Anderson to graduation.
“This group did a lot of good things this season. It was a tough way to end it but it was a good game,” Percy said.
Mustangs fall in 4A regional semifinal
