In a world where professional athletes are treated more like commodities than people, and, vice versa, a professional athletes allegiance to a team is fleeting, its refreshing to focus on a local ball team where the pride is still homespun.
The Iola Indians, comprised of high school athletes primarily from Iola and Humboldt, won the state title Saturday in the AA division in American League baseball action. Wednesday night the Indians face a AAA team from Salina at the Humboldt Sports Complex. The action begins at 5 p.m. The best two of three games decides who will move on to national competition in New Orleans. If Wednesdays action is a tie, the deciding game will be played Thursday.
Many of the local players have played one sport or another together since they were kids. For the graduating seniors, this could be their last action as teammates. The seasons end marks the beginning of new chapters as they split off for college, the armed forces, or jobs. The goodbyes will be heavy.