Who were the Iola High coaches to argue with a baseball umpire? At the end of five innings with the score 3-3, the official called the game.
“He said there was a league rule that says junior varsity games only go five innings no matter what,” said Mark Percy, IHS head baseball coach.
“We went into extra innings at Labette County last week but he called the game.”
So the Mustang junior varsity saddled up for game two of the Southeast Kansas League doubleheader with visiting Chanute High’s Blue Comets. That game lasted only three innings.
The Mustangs rolled to a 15-0 win. They scored six runs in the first, one in the second and eight more in the third to earn a run-rule victory.
Mason Coons was the winning pitcher. He threw a two-hit shutout, walked one and struck out five.
Devon Conner led the Iola offense with two singles. Hitting a single each were Michael Anderson, Coons, Eric Smith, Aaron Barclay and Garrett Donovan.
“Our kids played pretty well. In junior varsity games, umpires have a bigger strike zone. Our kids did a good job of putting the ball in play,” Percy said.
In the first game, Jarred Latta notched 10 strikeouts as Iola’s pitcher. He allowed three hits and walked four.
Iola had rallied to a 3-2 lead by the third inning. Chanute scored a run in the fifth to tie the game.
Tyler Clubine had two singles for Iola. Hitting a single each were Eric Heffern, Latta, Connor and Barclay.
“We were able to play a lot of different players and they all are improving. It’s about getting game experience, getting at-bats and playing in the field,” Percy said.
The Mustang junior varsity plays at home today against Independence. Game time is 4:30.
