TOPEKA — Baxter Springs’ Jarret Dotson got the best of Iola High’s offense.
Dotson was nearly unhittable Sunday in ending Iola’s season in the first round of the Class 4A-II State Baseball Tournamenl, 7-0.
“The kid pitched really well, shut us down,” coach Mark Percy said. “Then, we made mistakes and walked some batters and beaned some batters. If we weren’t going to score, they were going to beat us anyway, but they shouldn’t have had seven runs.”
The Lions’ bats roared to life early.
Kaid Karnes gave the team a 2-0 lead on an RBI-single in the first. Baxter Springs scored one more in the inning on a passed ball.
The Lions added two more runs in both the fourth and fifth innings.
Iola’s bats were silent for the majority of the game. Dotson made it 4 1/3 innings with a perfect game.
Ethan Sigg broke up Dotson’s perfect game bid with a one-out walk in the fifth. Two batters later, Garret Wade was hit by a pitch.
But Dotson retired the next batter to end the threat — the only time Iola had two baserunners aboard at the same time.
Dotson carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Coleson Wiggin led off and ended it with a single slapped into right field. But, the next three batters went down in order after Dotson was relieved by Brendan Skye.
Iola ended the season at 14-5.
“Coach [Marty] Taylor and I were talking, and people had been asking us what to expect at the beginning of the year,” Percy said. “I didn’t really know what to expect because we’re pretty young and inexperienced. We also lost Trent [Latta] and Derrick [Weir], who were a big part of our team. If we had to make a prediction at the beginning of the year, I thought we would finish a lot like last year.”
Iola finished last year 13-9 and in the finals of the Class 4A-II Regional. Percy said that he was impressed with how well the team played this year, despite only having two seniors.
“We exceeded even my expectations and I think they got some confidence,” Percy said. “Hopefully, we’ll come back with a little fire and be here again.”
The team loses starting center fielder Kohl Endicott and shortstop Drew Faulhaber.
“They had a good four years. The seniors are always the main focus on the team because they’ve been here for all four years,” Percy said. “They’ve been to all the practices. Drew started for us two years ago at the team that was runner-up at state, at second base. You get attached to them, and they work hard. Then, they’re gone and somebody has to step in. It happens every year, but it’s still hard. “
The good thing about only having two seniors is the multitude of underclassman returning. Iola had 10 players in the freshman and sophomore classes combined. Brett Taylor, Keanen Badders and Ethan Sigg make up next season’s senior class. With that many players returning, experience will be Iola’s strength.
Mustang bats fall silent in tourney loss
