Jase Herrmann

Iola is a team to keep an eye on in 3A baseball. The Mustangs are 11-3 and have won seven straight, including a 4-2 road win Thursday over 3A No. 1 Girard. Girard did not throw its No. 1 or No. 2 after using pitching earlier in the week against defending 2-1A champion Colgan in a sweep, but it’s still a very quality win and another sign that Iola is trending in the right direction. In year one under head coach Lake Johnson, Iola has shown consistency, depth and the ability to win in different ways. Tre Wilson (pictured) continues to be one of the top players in Kansas, a multiple-time SIK all-state selection hitting .429 with 15 RBI, 9 stolen bases and multiple extra-base hits. Jase Herrmann has also been big, hitting .385 with 15 RBI, 13 stolen bases and impact production at the plate. Roy Gordon is hitting .382 with 7 RBI and 14 walks, while Kale Pratt is at .371 and has been dominant on the mound with a 1.31 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 16 innings. Reed Clift is adding production at .310 with 10 RBI, and Austin Crooks (.302) has driven in 11 runs while also striking out 22 on the mound. Nick Bauer has drawn 12 walks and added 4 RBI, while Jakolby Hill and Brock Michaels continue to provide depth. On the mound, Jase Herrmann (1.94 ERA), Tre Wilson (2.69 ERA) and Broden Emerson (1.56 ERA) give Iola multiple reliable arms. Iola has quality wins over Chanute, Baldwin, Anderson County, Osawatomie, Parsons and Girard, with their only losses coming to Burlington and Baldwin. A balanced, deep group playing with confidence right now and a team that will be right in the mix in Class 3A. #sportsinkansas photo: Jimmy Potts