For the second time in as many weeks, the AA Iola Indians took to the diamond to face Burlington. Yesterdays games were at Riverside Park.
The last time the two faced each other was in Burlington, where the Indians won both games comfortably 8-1 and 4-0. This time was no different, with the Indians sweeping the doubleheader with scores of 7-2 and 6-1.
Game 1 started slowly, as both teams struggled to get runners on base. Isaac Big Bird Vink took to the mound once again for Iola. Vink struck out four through six innings of work, allowing only two runners to cross home plate.
In the fourth inning, Iola found its breakthrough. Derek Bycroft, the Registers June nominee for Allen County Area Athlete of the Month, started off the bottom-half by singling his way on. Kane Rogers followed Bycroft with a single, putting runners on first and second. Zane Whitney brought home Bycroft with a grounder down the third-base line, and Cal Leonard followed up with an RBI single to make the score 2-0 Iola.
The first at-bat I was a little rusty, just hadnt had many swings under me, Derek Bycroft said after missing last week due to vacation. After one at-bat I started feeling good, and started hitting the ball a lot better. It felt good to see the ball well as we head into the rest of the week.
Iola added a run to their lead in the next inning after Burlington picked up a run in the top-half of the fifth/ The Indians had the bases loaded when Blake Ashmore worked his way through a lengthy at bat to garner a walk, bringing Bycroft home and making the score 3-1 Iola.
Burlington would continue to fight back. A home run in the top of the sixth inning brought Burlington within one run, making the score 3-2 Iola.
The Indians bats brought in some breathing room after the Burlington home run. Casen Barker started off with a single and was followed by Jackson Aikins bunt that played dead in the dirt. Vink brought home Barker with an RBI single as Bycroft followed with his third hit of the game along with Rogers. With the bases loaded, Whitney cleared the bases with a double to right center, scoring three Indians to open the Iola lead to 7-2.
Ill be honest.. Im not sure if it was their kids or parents that started talking trash, but they awoke a sleeping giant, Indians head coach Jason Bauer said. Sometimes when you start talking trash youll wake up kids. After that we came out and decided to start playing. We also have some cocky kids, but they stay within themselves most of the time.
In the seventh and final inning, Bycroft came in for his only mound appearance of the evening, striking out two Burlington batters and allowing two hits.
I didnt get to warm-up that much before the inning, but I just went out there and I was going to throw all fastballs, Bycroft said. Hadnt been on the mound in awhile so wanted to knock the rust off and get loose again. So I was just planning on throwing strikes, not overthrowing, gave up a couple hits and let my defense work. But felt good in the end!
IN THE SECOND GAME, the Indians started right where they left off. Aikins reached on an error and then bumped over to second base off an overthrown ball by Burlingtons shortstop. Rogers followed with a bases-clearing double to give Iola an early lead. By the end of the first inning, it was 3-0 Iola.
Bauer went with Zach Beckmon for game 2. The Colony kid had 10 strikeouts and pitched the complete fine-inning game without allowing a single earned run.
First inning I was a little rusty, Beckmon said. After I came and got the nerves out, I felt like I was on top the whole time. I felt like I could pretty much dominate against these guys. Honestly I thought about when we played them a couple weeks ago, found that rhythm and got back in the groove. Second inning I threw a couple changeups, got all the nerves out, and saw it flying from there.
The Indians continued to add to their lead in the second inning. Aikins led off the inning with a single and stole second after beating out the throw. Bycroft tacked on another hit to his afternoon account, and Rogers followed with his third RBI of the game. Leonard had an RBI to bring home Bycroft from third to score the second run of the inning ballooning the Iola lead to 5-0.
Burlington loaded the bases in the fourth inning and found themselves within striking distance after Leonard bobbled a grounder hit towards third. Burlington brought home an unearned run to bring the tying run to the plate. But Beckmon zoned in and struck out two consecutive batters in the inning and keep Iola comfortably in the lead 5-1.
