HUMBOLDT — The Iola AA Indians dug into their toolbox to sweep Ottawa’s Post 60 Arrows at the Humboldt Sports Complex Tuesday.
Iola (9-3) got the win in game one by scoring three runs in each of the second and fifth innings and Ashton Hesse tossed a four-inning shutout for the 8-1 win. In game two, Sam Hull threw all five innings, only allowing one hit in a 3-2 victory.
Game one — 8-1 win
The Indians struck in the bottom of the second when Logan Page sent a two-run double out to right field which brought two runs around for the early 2-0 lead. Hesse singled to second base in the next at bat to score Page and make it a 3-0 ballgame.
Hesse was terrific on the mound where he worked four innings while not allowing a run and only three hits with two strikeouts. Rogan Weir then tossed the final three innings and allowed only one run on two hits with three walks.
“This has been the deepest pitching team we’ve had in a little while,” Iola head coach Ethan Tavarez said. “It’s nice having a lot of arms ready to go. Tonight he (Hesse) proved he’s come back to where he knows he can be. We want to get him more outings.”
Trey Sommer got into the fun in the bottom of the fifth when he smacked a three-run homer to left field to put the Indians ahead, 6-0.
“It’s nice to know the talent we have in this area and they’re able to play together,” said Tavarez. “This is probably the most fun team I’ve ever played with or coached. There’s a lot of fun personalities and a lot of talent. It speaks volume to the baseball talent in the community.”
Ottawa’s Jake Richards scored on a Weir wild pitch in the top of the sixth to bring it within 6-1.
Tre Wilson doubled to center to plate Page. Sommer singled to center as well to plate one more run and secure the 8-1 victory.
Sommer knocked home a team-high four runs while Page drove in two. Brandon McKarnin, Trevor Church and Sommer each had a team-high two hits.
Game two — 3-2 win
Iola held off a comeback by the Arrows in game two after the Indians scored all three of their runs in the first inning. Hull finished what he started on the mound, working all five innings and allowing only two runs on one hit. 
McKarnin grounded to first base into a fielder’s choice for the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. One batter later, Sommer scored on a wild pitch and Hull singled to shortstop to plate McKarnin for the 3-0 advantage.
Ottawa struck in the top of the third inning when Luke Cunningham grounded out to first base which allowed a run to come home for the 3-1 score. The Arrows scored one more run in the fourth on a Paul Gillette RBI single to bring it to one, 3-2.
