INDEPENDENCE — It is the best start ever for Iola High’s baseball team. The Mustangs won five in a row — all Southeast Kansas League games.
Iola did that by rallying for six runs in the sixth inning Tuesday for an 18-12 victory over host Independence High’s Bulldogs.
Unfortunately, the Bulldogs turned around and handed the Mustangs their first loss of the 2011 season. Independence notched a 6-4 win in the second game.
Iola is 5-1 overall and in SEK play.
In the opener, Independence led 3-1 after one inning. The Mustangs pushed across five runs in the second and was up 12-7. The Bulldogs tied the game by scoring five runs in the fifth.
Iola used three straight singles, an error and a walk to open the sixth inning. Clint Heffern hit a bases-loaded triple then the Mustangs had two more singles in the frame.
Jerrik Sigg worked 4 1/3 innings and was charged with 12 runs on 14 hits. Heffern pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball.
Heffern had two singles and a triple in the game and Aaron Barclay was 4-for-4 with three singles and a double. Devon Conner hit a solo home run and a single.
Levi Ashmore had three singles. Sigg, Braden Larson and Mason Coons connected for a single and a double apiece.
Iola led 4-3 through two innings before Independence scored three in the third for the final margin.
Corey Taylor and Jarred Latta each pitched three innings in the second contest.
Ashmore had two triples and Larson doubled. Hitting a single each were Heffern, Taylor, Coons and Conner.
Mustangs split with Bulldogs
