The Iola Mustangs 8-and-under youth baseball team has gotten to experience a lot of thrills this season.
In April they participated in the Alex Gordon Classic in Shawnee and although that tournament didn’t go the way they wanted, the young ball players were able to meet the All-Star Royals’ left fielder.
Up until last weekend, that was the biggest moment of the season for the team, but during the Hawaiian Hitfest in Kansas City, the Mustangs were able to break through and have a hugely successful tournament.
The Hawaiian Hitfest is one of the largest youth baseball tournament in the country and hosted over 660 teams this year. Iola’s *U Single-A bracket contained 22 teams.
After shifting from the Double-A level of USSSA baseball to the Single-A bracket, Iola was able to gain confidence. They had began the year with a 0-9 record.
Iola got on the winning track when they upset the No. 3 Single-A team in the state. They beat Louisburg Raptors, 12-3.
Iola then knocked off the Overland Park Bulldogs, 18-0 to advance into bracket-play.
The No. 2 team in the state waited for the Mustangs in the first round. Iola took care of the Overland Park “Building Champions” 15-5.
That advanced the Mustangs to the semifinals where they dispatched of the Overbrook Bombers 13-2.
That win set up a championship clash with the top-ranked Olathe Storm.
Iola quickly jumped out to a 6-2 lead and was able to hang on to win the championship 6-5.
After defeating the top-three ranked squads in the state, Iola is now ranked No. 2 in Kansas.
The Mustangs will next be on Sunday, June 5, when they host teams from Fort Scott and Chanute for a round robin.
