GARNETT — The Iola Mustangs will face the Humboldt Cubs for a chance to play in the regional championship after opening the tournament Thursday with an 8-7 victory over Anderson County.
After narrowly sweeping the Bulldogs earlier this season, Iola had a tough go in round two. The Mustangs needed a four-run fourth inning and a few gutsy plays on defense to escape Garnett with a win Thursday.
“We started out the five seed in this tournament and I think everybody in this regional bracket knows we’re not the fifth-best team,” Iola senior pitcher Grady Dougherty said. “Our bit of the schedule after league is tough, but I think that’s what got us ready for this situation.
“Being able to pull out an 8-7 game in the bottom of the seventh with a runner on third and two outs says something. We’re the most prepared team, and we have the hardest route, too.”
Iola closer Gavin Jones throws with two runs in scoring position during Anderson County’s final at-bat.
Dougherty picked up the win with five strikeouts over six innings relenting to senior closer Gavin Jones as he neared 100 pitches.
With the game-tying run on third, and the winning run on second, Jones approached the mound after having a few words with junior catcher Tre Wilson. In the end, Jones needed just four pitches to put the Bulldogs away and advance to the regional semifinals.
“[Wilson] said he had my back the entire time and just throw strikes the best I can,” Jones said. “He called a curveball one time, but I had to shake him off because I didn’t trust it. The only thought I had was throw it down the pipe. I got a great defense behind me.”
Reed Clift, a freshman second baseman, sealed the Mustang victory, with a two-out groundout.
Wilson gave Iola an early lead while belting the first two of his team-leading four RBIs.
“It could be the way I was holding the bat, or a bunch of different things,” said Wilson, adding he wanted to hit a home run to commemorate his mother’s birthday.
A pair of bases-loaded walks in the second inning gave Iola a 4-0 lead.
Anderson County rallied to take a 5-4 lead by the top of the fourth inning.
Another Wilson RBI tied the game, then a two-RBI Dougherty double put Iola back in the lead 7-5 before a chopping grounder by senior first baseman Lucas Maier forced an error and Iola’s final run of the evening.
The Bulldogs pulled within a run of Iola after scoring in the fourth and seventh innings, but every time Anderson County came within striking distance Iola’s defense shut them down.
First pitch for Tuesday’s regional semifinal game against the top-seeded Humboldt Cubs is at 2 p.m. The Cubs gave Prairie View a 10-3 drubbing to earn the honor of facing Iola in the semifinals. The winner of Tuesday’s game will move on to the regional championship and face the winner of the other semifinal contest featuring the second-seed Burlington Wildcats (19-6) and third-seed Neodesha Blue Streaks. Iola swept Burlington earlier this season but has not faced the Cubs this season.
Iola High School junior catcher Tre Wilson slides in for a score during Thursday’s Regional Tournament opener against fourth-seed Anderson County.
“It’s going to be emotional playing Humboldt. I grew up playing ball with at least five of those guys,” Dougherty said. “My best friend, Cole Mathes, is playing over there. I’m going to be on the mound throwing to him. It’s going to be emotional, but this kind of game (against Anderson County) gets us ready for that.”
