CHANUTE — The Iola American Legion Post 15 Indians 17U held on for a 6-4 victory over the Chanute Comets, splitting Monday’s doubleheader following a tumultuous start.
The Indians lost the first game, 12-2, by a mercy rule.
In Game 2, the Indians halted a fifth-inning rally for their fifth win of the season while taking three of their last four games.
“In baseball, you have to have a short mindset and not worry about what happened the play before,” said assistant coach John Taylor, filling in for Coach JT Taylor. “We talked about how we just let Game 1 get away from us. It was a close game, then in one inning we made mistake after mistake.”
Starter Kolton Hanson took the loss with a pair of strikeouts over three innings of work while allowing three walks, 10 runs and seven hits. Reliever Brock Michael took over in the fourth inning, but with first baseman Roy Gordon registering Iola’s only RBI of the evening, the Indians did not have enough run support to get back into contention.
Despite the blowout, Post 15 saw a glimmer of hope as third baseman Thomas Allee picked up a team-leading two hits while perfect in 2 of 2 at-bats. That small spark turned into a roaring flame in the finale as Allee took the mound.
“It was experience and leaving everything behind you and just focusing on the game,” Allee said. “It’s another game. The score is 0-0 again.”
Allee kept Chanute off the scoreboard in the first three of four innings on the the mound while tallying four strikeouts. Gordon put the Indians on the scoreboard with an RBI single, then second baseman Broderick Peters extended their lead to 2-0 with an RBI single.
The Indians added four runs in the fifth inning on hard choppers from catcher Franklin Kerr, outfielder Ruger Boren and Gordon scoring on an errant pitch.
“When I’m in the box, I kind of blackout and focus on hitting the ball,” said Gordon.
Chanute rallied to within striking distance of Post 15 with the bases loaded and down by two runs. Sensing trouble, Taylor opted to put in potential 2026 Humboldt starter Ty Shaughnessy to pick up the last out. Shaughnessy did not disappoint, posting a four-pitch strikeout and as well as covering home on a passed ball to make the tag and the final out.
“It was a broken play, but they made it happen and got the out,” Taylor said. “It builds momentum for Wednesday. We’re trying to get better throughout the year. Every game we have to get better. Every series we have to get better. That put us on the right foot.”
The Indians return to the diamond Wednesday for a doubleheader in Pittsburg. First pitch is 6 p.m.
