CHANUTE — Iola High’s softball season-opener had some good, bad and a little in between in a 10-0 loss to Chanute Friday.
Most importantly, the Fillies showed characteristics that bode well for the team’s future, head coach Chris Weide said.
“Like I told the girls, the only thing I was disappointed in was the score,” Weide said. “They battled. They worked hard. There are definitely some things we found we need to work on, but that’s a pretty tough team to play your first game. There were a lot of positives.”
The Fillies got the leadoff batter on base in two innings, both times by Kailey Schinstock.
She walked to lead off the second, then moved to second on Maci Miller’s single.
But three straight strikeouts followed to end the scoring threat.
Schinstock then roped a line drive to center field to lead off the fourth for a double. But a strikeout and two ground balls ended the threat after Jenna Miller was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second.
“The main thing was timely hitting,” Weide said. “We got girls on, but couldn’t come up with a two-out hit. They got those two-out hits.”
Chanute led 3-0, but then scored its final seven runs — three in the third and four in the fourth — after starting both innings with two outs and nobody on base.
Iola’s offensive attack was otherwise limited to Jenna Curry’s two-out single in the third.
Jenna Miller took the loss, giving up seven hits with two strikeouts.
The game was a welcome sight for a team eager to get back on the field.
The 2020 softball season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and several practices were held indoors or on asphalt parking lots because of rainy weather.
“It was great just to be out here,” Weide said. “We’ve practiced every day, but we’ve been on a field maybe four or five days in all.”
The Fillies take on Burlington Tuesday.
“Burlington is one of the better teams in the Pioneer League,” Weide said. “When we get everybody healthy, we’ll be right up there with them. We’ve just got a ways to go.”
