Emporia High sophomore Chase Harrington delivered when it mattered the most on Friday night against Iola at Soden’s Grove.
After the Spartans dropped the first game 9-8, Harrington delivered with a walk-off double in the eighth inning of the finale for a 5-4 victory. Harrington finished 2-for-4 in the game and 3-for-8 in the doubleheader.
Harrington said it was a timely hit.
In game one, Iola took an early 1-0 lead before the Spartans scored three in the first highlighted by a 2-run triple by Owen Ruge and an RBI single by Andrew Ruxton. Iola tied the game at three in the second and took a 6-3 lead through 2 1/2 innings. The Spartans cut the deficit to 6-5 on a passed ball and an RBI single by Aiden Ewing. Iola tacked on four in the fourth for a 9-5 lead. Emporia High then chipped away with three in the fifth with a pair of RBI doubles by Chase Harrington and Ewing and an RBI single by Grady Howe. The Spartans had the tying run on base in the seventh but couldn’t tie the game. Ruge took the loss on the mound going three innings, allowing six runs on six hits and five strikeouts, while also going 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs.
In game two, Emporia High jumped out to a 4-0 lead thanks to a Landon Wohletz RBI single in the second, two Iola errors and Ewing scoring on a double pick-off attempt. Iola scored its first run in the fifth and tied the game with three in the sixth before Harrington gave the Spartans the win in the eighth. Madden Seidl earned the win in relief, allowing one hit and two strikeouts in three innings.
Emporia High coach Anthony Markowitz said the Spartans are starting to find ways to win and beat tough teams.
The Spartans honored Ewing, their lone senior, who went 3-for-8 in the doubleheader with two RBIs said this week was a big week going 3-1.
Emporia High is now 8-10 on the season. The Spartans travel to Hayden on Monday for a doubleheader.
