Fillies thump Anderson County, 9-1

Now this was the formula Vince Coons had been seeking.
Playing their third game in 24 hours — following a 16-day layoff — Iola High’s softball team found its groove with the right arm of Mackenzie Weseloh and key offensive performers up and down the lineup Tuesday afternoon.
Iola’s 9-1 win over Anderson County secured fifth place for Iola in the Pioneer League Tournament.
Weseloh settled down nicely after allowing a first-inning home run.
She was particularly effective with her changeup, striking out eight while allowing only three hits with three walks.
“They’ve got girls who like to rip it,” she said.
The FIllies, meanwhile, strung together rallies in the fourth and seventh innings to take control.
Ashlie Shields’ aggressiveness in the top of the fourth helped break a 1-1 tie. She singled, advanced to second before the ball could be returned to the pitcher and stole third before scoring on Holly Schomaker’s ground ball.
Libby Shay drove in Halie Cleaver with a single. Katie Shields followed with an RBI double which allowed her to snuff Anderson County’s biggest scoring threat in the fourth inning. Iola led 4-1.
Weseloh struck out Morgan Louk and B.J. Rockers to end the threat. She allowed only one other hit after that.
Anderson County mounted its only real scoring threat in the bottom of the fourth. A walk and error led to runners on second and third with one out. Weseloh responded by striking out Morgan Louk and B.J. Rockers to end the threat.
“Mackenzie did a nice job with her off-speed pitches,” Coons said. “Their batters would get out too far on their front foot, and they couldn’t do anything with her pitches.”
Shay, who only started playing this week after suffering a knee injury in basketball, started the seventh with a single. Katie Shields followed with an RBI double. Walks to Weseloh and Shelby Reno loaded the bases for Thompson, who smacked a two-out, two-run double. Schomaker followed with a two-run single to cap the scoring.
“We got help from everybody,” Coons said. “We’ve struggled with our adjustments before today and couldn’t get hits. We adjusted today and got hits.
Katie Shelds had two doubles and a single to lead the Fillies’ offense. Thompson laced a pair of doubles. Shay went 2-for-3. Schomaker had two singles and three RBIs. Ashlie Shields and Reno singled twice. Endicott had a double.
Anderson County catcher Maddie Magner had an eventful fifth inning, gunning down three Filly runners in the frame. Endicott led off the frame with a double, but was caught trying to steal third. Reno and Ashlie Shields followed with singles, but both were called out after Magner threw behind them following subsequent pitches.
Iola has another layoff before the Class 4A Regional Playoffs begin Monday in Chanute. Seedings and first-round matchups were to be announced today.