richard@iolaregister.com
CHANUTE — Iola High’s baseball team emerged victorious in a titanic matchup, rolling to a 16-2 win over previously unbeaten Humboldt High Friday, then scoring four in the seventh inning to erase a 1-0 deficit in a 4-1 win.
How the sweep will reverberate for both teams remains uncertain.
While the Mustangs are the first team to defeat Humboldt in the regular season since 2011, Iola must contend with an equally powerful squad Tuesday when unbeaten Central Heights comes to town.
“We weren’t really able to do much against Whitcomb until the end,” Mustang head coach Mark Percy said. “He’s a good pitcher.”
Friday’s doubleheader was moved from Humboldt to the Neosho County Community College campus because of wet field conditions. The teams originally were to be part of the Walter Johnson Baseball Tournament, along with Yates Center and Neodesha, but those teams stayed home after the tournament was canceled.
Humboldt ace Nathan Whitcomb held Iola in check through the first six innings before an error and walk with one out led to Iola’s rally.
Eric Heffern reached on an error, Ashmore walked and Trent Latta reached on an error. Mason Coons walked, then Derrick Weir drilled an RBI single, as did Aaron Barclay, giving Iola a 4-1 lead.
Coons picked up the baton from there from the mound.
He retired Humboldt in order in the bottom of the seventh to finish his complete game win. He held the powerful Cub offense in check, scattering six hits with five strikeouts and a walk.
Barclay was 2-for-4 at the plate. Heffern had a single, as did Tyler Clubine and Weir.
Whitcomb took the loss, despite giving up only four hits with seven strikeouts.
Humboldt’s only run came on Caleb Vannata’s RBI triple in the fourth, driving in Grayson Pearish, who had singled.
Hunter Murrow added two singles for the Cubs. Vanatta also had a single.
Things weren’t nearly as dramatic in the opener. Iola exploded for five runs in the third and fourth innings, then six more in the top of the sixth.
Jacob Rhoads smacked a leadoff triple in the third. He scored on an error. Levi Ashmore and Latta followed with singles. Coons followed with an RBI single, then Weir smashed a double. Barclay followed with a two-run single, giving Iola a 5-0 lead.
The fun continued in the fourth inning. Rhoads led off with a single. Latta delivered a two-out RBI single, as did Coons. Weir singled, Barclay reached on an error, and Tyler Clubine’s single pushed the lead to 10-0.
Barclay singled in the sixth, Clubine reached on a fielder’s choice and the next four Mustangs reached either by walk or hit batter. Latta’s single cleared the bases.
Barclay got the start, allowing only one hit with four strikeouts. Latta came on in relief, allowing one hit in two innings.
Vannata had an RBI triple in the fourth for the Cubs. He scored on a fielder’s choice.
For Iola, Ashmore had a single, while Latta went 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Coons went 2-for-4 with three runs driven in. Weir scored two runs with a single and double. Barclay had two singles, two runs and two RBIs. Clubine had a single. Rhoads had two hits, including a triple, and three runs scored. Heffern had a single, RBI and run.
Whitcomb had a single and Pearish a triple for the Cubs.
Mustangs take two from Humboldt
