The Iola Hormigas’ losing streak extended to four games following Monday’s 15-4 loss to the Garden City Wind (25-3).
With just one month to go in the regular season, the Hormigas are three games out from the coveted second seed in the wild card chase while falling to 7-18.
“Garden City is a great team. Offensively, defensively, their record shows it,” Iola coach Derrick Dominguez said. “We came out here and competed against them. Today seemed like we had a lack of focus, a lack of effort, and that happens sometimes when you get a rain delay.”
Despite solid hitting from Iola’s batters, the pitching seemed to be the Hormigas’ weak spot Monday after allowing a combined 13 walks. Starter Colin Sepulveda took the loss while tallying a strikeout and allowing Garden City to jump out to a 7-0 lead by the third inning.
“These guys, whenever they pull up, everyone gets intimidated,” Dominguez said. “That’s what I get from them in this league. They intimidate a lot of teams with their numbers. They bring 30 or 35 guys with them on the road. We got the right nine out there and I’m very confident.”
The Hormigas got on the scoreboard with a pair of RBIs from Sepulveda and outfielder Miguel Tejada Jr., who also had a team-leading three hits, but could not keep pace with the Wind, who went on a 7-2 run to take the first of a two-game series. Iola scored a pair of runs in the sixth inning after shortstop Oscar Galvez reached home on a wild pitch and an RBI double by Jorge Correo, but it was not enough to get back into contention.
Despite the loss, Dominguez thanked the Iola community, who set an attendance record at Monday’s game. With a fireworks show scheduled for Tuesday night as well as several other community-minded events planned through the final month of the season, Dominguez said he hopes the Hormigas continue making a footprint in the community.
“That was huge tonight. It was a big jump in attendance,” Dominguez said. “It wasn’t the game I was hoping for, and I wish it would have turned out differently, but if we can have people show up like that, I think the team will rally behind that.”
Following Tuesday’s game, the Hormigas will take Wednesday off, then open a three-game road series against the Blackwell Flycatchers, then host the Trinidad Triggers Sunday at Satchel Paige Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., then host the Triggers Monday and Tuesday in Iola. First pitch for Monday’s game is at 6 p.m.
