Indians falter at Paola

By JOCELYN SHEETS
Register Sports Editor

PAOLA — Iola American Legion Post 15’s Indians have now lost four games in a row. The Baxter Springs tournament over the weekend was rained out.
The Indians lost 11-1 and 11-3 to host Coffeyville last Thursday. On Tuesday night, the Indians dropped a 6-5 decision and lost 8-2 to host Paola.
Iola is 14-16 overall. The Indians are slated to play at home next Tuesday against Osage City. First-pitch time is 6 p.m. at the Allen County Community College baseball field.
Paola broke a 2-2 tie with Iola by scoring two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth. Iola’s seventh-inning rally fell short as the Indians pushed across three runs to lose 6-5.
Garrett Ericson took the loss, going five innings and giving up four runs on five hits and two walks plus had three strikeouts. Nick Cook pitched one inning, allowing two runs on three hits and one hit batter.
Ericson had a solo home run in the second inning and two singles. Mark Bristol singled and doubled and Cook had two singles. Keatin Herder, Drew Mueller, Derrek McKarnin and Adam Eisenbart each had a single.
In the nightcap, Paola scored three runs in the second to take a 4-1 lead and led 8-1 after six innings.
Ethan Ericson was the losing pitcher for Iola. He gave up seven runs on five hits and five walks and had four strikeouts in five innings of work. Bristol pitched one inning allowing one run on one hit and one walk with two strikeouts.
Hitting a single each for Iola were Herder, Mueller and Charles Apt.