As Iola Mustangs’ coach Mark Percy watched the Post 15 Indians pile up runs on Friday night, he had to be wondering where this offensive dominance came from. After all, the team is comprised primarily of his Mustangs.
Percy guided the Mustangs all the way to the state tournament this season behind a dominant pitching staff and an inconsistent offense. But ever since donning the Post 15 colors for the summer, the bats seem to have figured it out.
The Indians run-ruled an overmatched Howard squad 12-0 in four innings to begin the doubleheader.
On the mound, former Humboldt star Daylon Splane pitched the first three innings and allowed only one hit, while former Mustang Darius Greenawalt closed the game and maintained the shutout.
At the plate everyone seemed to find their stride at once. Derek Bycroft, Isaac Vink and Splane each had three hits for the Indians while Blake Ashmore, Ethan Sigg and Cal Leonard added two hits each.
The Indians finished with 17 hits including five extra-base knocks.
GAME TWO
If game one demonstrated that the Indian offense was starting to heat up, they boiled over in game two.
The Indians scored 14 runs in the first inning and added one in the second.
Normally that would invoke the run-rule, but Howard’s coach requested that they keep playing. He pointed out that the only way they are going to improve is by playing.
Howard did manage to score an unearned run on a passed ball in the third, but they struggled mightily with Ethan Tavarez. Tavarez pitching three no-hit innings with four strikeouts.
Former Crest Lancer Nate Berry finished the game with two scoreless innings.
“I was a little rusty,” Berry said. “I got to knock off some of that.”
Berry is a bit different from his teammates because Crest doesn’t have a baseball program yet — they are starting one next year. So the left-hander will knock off that ‘rust’ as the season continues.
“It is a lot of fun,” Berry said. “This is the only opportunity to play ball for me, because my school doesn’t have baseball. I really enjoy it.”
The Indians scored five in the third and nine in the fourth for the 29-1 victory.
Iola had 22 hits with Bycroft and Splane each having three hits again and Vink, Ashmore, Lance Daniels, Tavarez, Berry, Greenawalt and Leonard each getting two hits.
UP NEXT
Iola will open the three-day Chanute Tournament on Friday at 8 p.m. A full schedule will be posted later in the week.
