Call dooms Fillies

GARNETT — A bizarre umpire’s ruling, in which Iola High’s softball team was punished for not recording a fourth out in an inning, was a fitting example of how Monday went for the Fillies.
The unusual call came with host Anderson County High batting in the bottom of the fourth inning with a 3-1 lead.
With runners on second and third and Anderson County’s Maddie Magner at bat with one out, Magner sent a scorching line drive to center that Iola’s Tessa Rowe snared for the second out of the inning.
Because neither runner stayed at her respective base, Rowe tossed the ball into second base for an easy double play.
Inning over. Scoring threat averted.
Or maybe not.
After the Fillies reached the dugout, the home plate umpire informed Coach Vince Coons that while Iola recorded the third out, the runner on third had crossed home plate. Because Iola only doubled up the runner on second, and didn’t do the same for the runner on third, the run counted.
In short, Iola needed to record a fourth out.
“The way he explained it made no sense at all,” Coons said. “It was just that kind of day.”
The run became crucial when Iola plated a run in the top of the sixth, but instead of trailing by only one run, the Fillies still trailed by two, 4-2.
That meant Iola had to play for a bigger inning after Taylor Heslop led off the top of the seventh with a walk.
Instead, Anderson County retired the final three batters in the seventh to save the 4-2 win.
Anderson County then exploded for seven runs in the first inning of the nightcap to complete the sweep with an 11-1 win.
The losses put Iola’s record at 2-4. The Fillies are scheduled to travel today to Prairie View for a doubleheader, weather permitting.

“WE JUST MADE too many mistakes,” Coons said.
Fillies starter Mackenzie Weseloh had trouble with the strike zone in the first game, particularly early in the count.
That, in turn, led to hittable pitches for Anderson County’s hitters.
“Then our defense fell asleep and let two runners advance on a double steal, which was big because both of those runners scored,” Coons said.
The Bulldogs led 3-0 after one inning before Weseloh settled down the rest of the game.
Iola scored its first run in the second inning on consecutive singles by Holly Schomaker, Katie Thompson and Baylea Thompson.
Then down 4-1, Iola scored its second run in the top of the sixth when Shelby Reno doubled and scored on Katie Thompson’s single.
Iola lost another runner on the base paths after Hannah Endicott led off the inning with a single and stolen base, only to be caught trying to advance to third on a ground ball.
Reno and Schomaker paced Iola with a single and double apiece. Katie Thompson had two singles. Endicott and Baylea Thompson had one single each.
Weseloh gave up six hits and four walks. She struck out five.

ANDERSON COUNTY scored seven in the first, one in the second and three in the third of the second game.
Reno and Schomaker drilled back-to-back two-out doubles for Iola’s only run in the top of the fourth.
Emily McKarnin led the way with two singles. Weseloh and Halie Cleaver also singled.
Endicott took the loss, giving up nine hits and four walks with three strikeouts.
“We had trouble seeing the ball here tonight,” Coons said. “We just not hitting the ball well at all.”