HUMBOLDT — Humboldt High’s Cubs wiped out a 4-0 lead by visiting Iola High’s Mustangs with a seven-run third inning Friday.
But the Mustangs kept at it in the first game of two non-league contests at Walter Johnson Field. Scoring twice in the fourth made it 7-6 Humboldt.
In the fifth with one gone, Corey Taylor doubled to spark the Mustangs. Clint Heffern beat out an infield single then stole second base. Braden Larson worked a walk to load the bases.
Mason Coons cranked out a two-run single putting the Mustangs in front for good. Coons would score on a ground-put by Levi Ashmore.
The Mustangs would go on to win 17-10. They scored five runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh. They held the Cubs to three runs in the sixth.
“It got a little wild in the third inning. Jarred Latta didn’t pitch that bad but had a couple of tough innings in his first varsity start,” said Mark Percy, Mustang head coach.
“He did what we wanted. He stayed with it and ate up innings.”
J. Latta got the win in the opener, going 5 1/3 innings for Iola. He was charged with 10 runs on 10 hits and five walks plus had five strikeouts. Connor Frazell pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball. He allowed two hits and struck out one.
Iola’s offense had 19 hits. Percy said once the Mustang batters settled down and were patient at the plate, they hit the ball pretty well.
Taylor had three singles and a double for the Mustangs and Jerrik Sigg doubled three times. Ryan Latta hit three singles while Larson had two singles and a double.
Frazell connected for a single and a double. Hitting a single each were Ashmore, Chris Heffern, Clint Heffern and Coons.
Iola took full advantage of 12 free passes — 11 walks and one hit batter — issued by Humboldt pitching in the second game. The contest went just four innings with Iola winning 15-0.
Clint Heffern was the winning pitcher for Iola. He limited the Cubs to two hits, walked one and struck out three.
In a five-run first inning, Chris Heffern doubled in two runs. Up 10-0, the Mustangs scored five runs in the fourth. Three came across on a triple by Frazell and the other two scored when Taylor singled.
Frazell also had two singles and a double in the game. Ryan Latta had two base hits and a double. Chris Heffern singled and doubled and Taylor had a single.
The Mustangs improved to 11-7 overall. Today’s final Southeast Kansas League doubleheader at home with Fort Scott is doubtful at press time because of rain but no official word had reached the Register as of yet.
No report from Humboldt with the Cubs’ individual statistics was available by deadline.
Humboldt (4-11) is scheduled to play at Caney today in Tri-Valley League action. The Cubs had won four games in a row going into Friday’s doubleheader.
Mustangs sweep past Cubs
