TOPEKA — The Iola AA Indians American Legion enjoyed a successful weekend by winning the Kansas Senators Tournament in Topeka.
The Indians (4-0) swept their way through a four-game slate, capping it with a thrilling walk-off in the bottom of the eighth over the Topeka Senators. A pair of Iola pitchers combined to only allow one hit over 7.2 innings for a 1-0 win over Topeka.
Iola Indians vs. Ottawa — 3-1 win
Kaiden Barnett started on the mound for Iola against the Ottawa Post 60 Arrows. He worked four innings of shutout ball while allowing only three hits and striking out five.
“We’ve worked with him (Barnett) on pitching and we told him at the beginning of this year we wanted him to throw a lot more,” Iola head coach Ethan Tavarez said. “He’s put in the work in bullpens and working on some of his skill and technique. His curveball worked really well today and it’s nice to hear from another coach of how well your guy is throwing.”
Trey Sommer sparked the scoring for the Indians in the top of the first when he singled to left field to plate Barnett for the early 1-0 edge.
Barnett drove in the next Iola run in the top of the third when he flew out to center field which allowed Gavin Page to tag up and score for the 2-0 lead.
“That’s where getting more guys around would have been nice to see. We were making contact with the ball and the score didn’t show it,” said Tavarez. “It’s putting trust in these guys instead of telling them how they need to go up for the at bat. Letting them have their own at bats gives them a bit more confidence which is nice as a coach.”
Iola made it a three-run game in the fifth inning when Jack White grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop which allowed Sommer to score for the 3-0 advantage.
Ottawa’s lone run came in the sixth inning. Jake Richards scored on a wild pitch by Iola pitcher Ashton Hesse for the 3-1 score. That’s all the Arrows were able to score as Rogan Weir came on to pitch the final inning.
Weir struck out two in the sixth to record the save and the 3-1 victory.
Iola Indians vs. Concordia — 14-2 win
It was all Iola from the first pitch. The Indians scored five runs in the first inning, seven in the second and two more later in the game for the 14-2 lopsided victory.
Sommer knocked a three-run homer to left for the early 3-0 lead. Church then ripped a two-run single to left for the 5-0 lead heading to the second inning. 
In the second inning, Sommer roped an RBI single into center to make it 6-0 before Weir sent a two-run single down the left field line which made it a 8-0 lead. Jack White singled home a run to make it 9-0 before Logan Page sent a two-run double to right for the 11-0 advantage.
