At Weeks End
The scene: Garnett, a hot, dusty ball field on the north side of town; July 1988.
The final game of the Garnett district, the winner advancing to the AA American Legion state tournament, was cracked up to be classic, pitting two of the best southpaws in eastern Kansas, supported by teams that had lost sparingly. On the mound for Fort Scott was Shane Dennis, whose dad Don pitched in the majors and had given him better tutoring than most young players. For Iola it was Brian Klepper, who had just turned 16 and had a fastball that came close to breaking the sound barrier.
Fort Scott would have been the favorite if betting were allowed, which may not have stopped a few fanatics from laying down a few greenbacks.
Dennis was joined by a bunch of players who had been together two or three seasons. Iola wasnt as seasoned. Several players were 16, a couple just barely, and were in their first year of AA after two seasons of A ball.
Klepper, with a bring em on attitude, pitched his best in big games. His fastball had touched 90 all season, clocked by a Texas Rangers scout frequently in the stands when we played. Iola players had a swagger, fueled by Tim Below, the cocksure left fielder who loved to raze opponents Hey, veg head was a favorite dart he tossed at pitchers and catcher Mike Howard, whod dive into a bucket of nails to win a game. Howard sloughed off bruises and scrapes and didnt feel right without a soiled uniform.
Adopting coach-speak, I gave a short talk before the game, the Iola players perched on a picnic table. What I told them I wont divulge, but it had the intended effect. As we marched toward the diamond, jaws set, the kids were eager to show the Fort Scott coach they were better than he allegedly had claimed.
The game was fist-tight from the start.
Then, in the last inning it appeared all we had done might come unraveled.
With us leading 4-2, Fort Scott loaded the bases with two outs. The meat of its order was waiting in the wings, including a couple of strokers who had had Kleppers number in several previous games. After a couple of pitches, one unleashed a scorcher down the third base line that looked as though it would fly into the corner. Two runs were assured, maybe three.
Todd Stranghoner was playing back at third. He snatched the ball as it kicked up a dust plume on its third hop and, with a Fort Scott runner bearing down on third, dove to tag the bag and end the game.
The play sent us on our way to the state tournament in Norton, but without Todds services. He dislocated his elbow on the game-ending play. Kurt Lind filled in admirably at Norton. Late in one game I couldnt stand not giving Todd a chance to play in the state tournament. He went in for one inning … and if a play like the one in the Garnett district had been dictated, Ive no doubt he would have made it, pain or not.
We went on to take state, winning four straight games and polishing off El Dorado 7-2 for the championship.
My fervent hope is the same result awaits Iola in the state tournament this coming week.
