The Mustangs were squarely focused on Neodesha and taking care of business on Thursday at Riverside Park.
With the biggest day of the season looming next Tuesday, when they are scheduled to face off with Wellsville — who currently sits just one game behind Iola at the top of the league standings — Iola cruised past the potential roadblock of Neodesha in its collision course for the league championship. Iola knocked off Neodesha, 12-0 and 10-0.
“It is good to pick up a couple of wins and run-rule a team a couple of times to get ready for the bigger games we have coming up,” Iola senior Brett Taylor said.
One key for Percy going into the Thursday doubleheader was managing his pitching staff so he has all hands on deck for the Wellsville games.
“We wanted, if we could, to pitch four or five kids,” Percy said.
Percy decided to go with his No. 1 and No. 2 starters with Ethan Scheibmeir and Derek Bycroft.
In game one, Percy’s plan went according to plan and Scheibmeir pitched the first four shutout innings with junior Ben Cooper coming in for the fifth. The game was called 12-0 after five innings due to the 10-run rule.
“It was good to get them in and get them out quickly so we didn’t hurt their arms,” Taylor said.
In the second game, Bycroft got the start and Percy planned on using the same strategy to give some of his other pitchers some work and have everyone ready for Wellsville. But Bycroft spoiled his coach’s plan by pitching too well.
“Derek pitched really well. We wanted them to get their pitch count going a little bit, but not way up. Scheibmeir ended with 57 and Derek only had 54 through five innings. That is unbelievable.”
Percy said his other pitchers were to pitch during Friday’s practice so that everyone will be clicking on all cylinders for next week.
The Mustangs defense continued to provide stellar backup to the Mustang rotation and they were especially strong up the middle where Taylor mans center field and Isaac Vink and Ben Cooper provide the double-play combination.
“Our defense is feeling good,” Taylor said. “We are comfortable out there at every position.”
Iola now takes their one game lead in the league into Tuesday’s showdown in Wellsville. In order for Wellsville to edge Iola out for the league title, they will need to sweep the Mustangs.
“They have a solid team,” Percy said. “They have a little pop on their fastball, more than we saw tonight, but we are confident. We think we are the team to beat and we want to prove that we are the team to beat.”
