HUMBOLDT Head coach Mark Percy was forced into a mental balancing act Thursday after the Iola High baseball team split with Wellsville to close out the regular season.
On one hand, Iolas 5-3 victory in game one wrapped up a second straight league title.
On the other hand, the Mustangs struggled through a game two 8-7 loss where they had multiple chances to put the game away and stay undefeated but instead found themselves with their first loss of the season.
Winning league is the first goal we set out to accomplish every season, and so were happy that we went out and got that taken care of, Percy said. However, Im disappointed with the way we played in both games and Im sure the kids are, too. This team is much better than how they played today. We didnt look like it but we are.
Percy is correct in that the Mustangs did not look like their dominant selves on Thursday at their temporary home at the Humboldt Sports Complex. Part of that has to do with their opponent. With the exception of Anderson County, Wellsville is by far the best team that Iola faced this year. That cant be discounted.
But what also must be factored in is that Iola hadnt played a baseball game in two weeks (and that was a pair of three-inning blowouts over Neodesha where Iola emptied its bench as quickly as possible.
Iola had tried to fit in series with Chanute and Parsons but neither school would agree on a makeup date and so the Mustangs sat and waited until Thursday.
Im disappointed that we lost the game but Im also disappointed that we didnt get a chance to play some of the teams who we were supposed to play a while back, Percy said. We havent played in two weeks and we looked like it today. You can only do so much in a gym or in a parking lot. Were not throwing to live hitters and were not doing much live batting. Im glad we were able to play today, because were not ready for regionals.
Even Iolas best were rusty. Starters Derek Bycroft and Cal Leonard both struggled compared to their standards. Bycroft allowed two runs on four hits and three walks with eight strikeouts. He was pulled after five innings due to pitch count limitations. Leonard went three innings and gave up four runs on four hits and six walks with six strikeouts.
Junior first baseman Brady Wiggin, however, was on fire in both games. He was perfect at the plate, going 3-3 on hits with three RBIs in game one before grabbing two hits and three walks in game two.
I dont think they got him out the whole day, Percy said, Hes a pretty good baseball player and he played well today. But we also have guys who are pretty good who didnt play as well.
Calvin Delich had a multi-hit game in game one with two hits. Bycroft, senior Blake Ashmore and junior Zane Whitney each had two hits in game two.
With the league championship in hand and this series behind them, the Mustangs now look forward to regionals on Tuesday. Iola is the top seed in the 4A East division and will play either Coffeyville or Bishop Miege to start off the tournament at 3 p.m.
A win there moves Iola to the regional final versus either Baldwin or Tonganoxie.
Everyone in our regional is pretty good, Percy said. Were not going to play like we did today and win. We cant look past anyone, but we just need to win two games, and we have the team to do it. Weve got work to do.
