CONCORDIA — The Iola AA Indians earned a spot in the Kansas American Legion state baseball tournament championship game after a pair of victories over Beloit and Garnett on Friday.
The Indians (28-6) scored early and often, amassing 10 runs across the third through fifth innings, and were lifted by a good pitching performance from Logan Page against Beloit in the second round matchup earlier in the day.
“It feels good to get the bats going, get some momentum,” said Iola’s Jack White. “It feels good to be the energizer and if somebody’s hitting, we’re all hitting. Our energy rubs off on each other at the plate.”
Iola took down local rival Garnett in the semifinal game behind Trevor Church’s complete game start on the mound for a 3-1 victory over the Muddogs. It marked Church’s second complete game start after he went the distance and very similarly allowed one run and struck out 11 Muddogs in the zone tournament in Humboldt.
Iola v Beloit Musteez — 13-3 win
The offense immediately came alive for Iola in the bottom of the first as Brandon McKarnin grounded out to first base to bring home Indian Henry White with the bases loaded for the 1-0 lead. Sam Hull then singled to third base to bring home Rogan Weir for the 2-0 Iola advantage.
“I thought everyone went up there and had good at bats especially when it was needed,” said Iola head coach Ethan Tavarez. “Getting on, moving guys around went great. Defensively, we had some mistakes which we got around and answered with the bats. At this point, I think we’ll hit anything we can see.”
Beloit cut into the deficit when Eli Hahn singled to second base to bring home Lance Lundine for the 2-1 score in the top of the second.
Iola’s Trey Sommer singled to center field to bring home Trevor Church for a 3-1 lead in the bottom half of the second.
The Musteez then struck in the third inning when Logan Arasamith scored on an error to bring the score within 3-2.
Rogan Weir was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the third for the 4-2 advantage. Sommer then ripped a double to left to clear the bases and put the Indians ahead 7-2.
Beloit had only one more run left in the tank when Kaden Lomax grounded to second to bring home a run and make it a 7-3 game in the top of the fourth.
Logan Page was good on the mound for Iola and all they needed, pitching all five innings and allowing only three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts.
“Being able to pick up teammates and get reassurance back and still go out there and throw strikes is always huge,” Tavarez said. “Our defense let him (Page) know the runners on base didn’t matter. Just being able to get comfortable again and keep his composure after that is pretty big.”
The Indians pressed the gas a bit harder in the fourth when Barnett doubled to left field to take an 8-3 lead. Barnett later scored on a steal of home for the 9-3 lead. White singled to center field one at bat later to bring home Gavin Page for the 10-3 Iola advantage.
Iola put an end to the game with the run-rule in the bottom of the fifth. Barnett started the scoring when he doubled to left field to score McKarnin for the 11-3 lead. White then singled to shortstop to score Hull for the 12-3 lead before Church singled to left field for the 13-3 victory.
