It is nearly impossible to top the pitching performances Iola High’s Jarrett Herrmann and Korbin Cloud provided Tuesday.
The Mustang hurlers combined to retire 23 of 24 Prairie View batters in their no-hit performances in Iola’s 15-0 and 10-0 victories.
Herrmann’s perfect game lasted three innings before the game was ended via run-rule. He struck out six of the nine batters he faced.
Cloud’s no-hit night went five innings. He struck out eight. Prairie View’s only baserunner of the game came in the top of the fifth
Cloud walked Prairie View’s Colby Garretson, but Iola’s Carter Hutton promptly threw out Garretson when he attempted to steal second base. Cloud struck out the final batter of the inning.
Then, Hutton singled and Cooper Riley doubled to lead off the bottom of the fifth. TJ Taylor’s ground ball scored Hutton, Riley scored on a wild pitch, and Herrman’s line drive to single drove in Cloud. Herrmann came in to score on a wild pitch, ending the game because the score reached 10-0.
Has head coach Ryan Latta ever been involved in such a masterful display of pitching?
“Not that I can remember,” he said. “It says a lot. It says our pitchers are filling up the strike zone, and they’re giving the defense a chance to make plays. It gives me confidence, and it gives them confidence as well.”
Iola’s batters had plenty working for them as well, taking advantage of some erratic Buffalo pitching and fielding.
Prairie View’s pitchers delivered 14 walks in the opener as Iola led 7-0 after one frame, 12-0 after two and ending the game on Brandon McKarnin’s two-run double in the third because the spread reached 15 runs.
Herrmann singled twice, scored two runs and drove in three.
McKarnin had a single and drove in four, while Taylor and Cloud had the other two singles.
All nine Mustang starters, plus pinch hitter Trent Jones, reached base via a walk.
Unofficially, only 47 of the 125 pitches a trio of Buffalo hurlers threw were for strikes.
Conversely, a statistical synopsis indicated 23 of Herrmann’s 37 pitches were for strikes, while 40 of Cloud’s 51 pitches were within the strike zone.
And even with the twin blowouts, Latta is confident Iola’s offense can find a higher gear.
