CHANUTE — Some inexplicably sloppy play has Iola’s junior American Legion squad in a pinch.
Pittsburg took full advantage of five Iola A Indian fielding errors in the first four innings, taking a 2-0 lead in the process.
The lead grew to 4-1 before Iola’s furious rally in the top of the seventh ended with the tying and winning runs on base.
The Indians were within inches of at least tying the score when Sam Hull’s two-out line drive destined for left field was snared by Pittsburg shortstop Brandon Hall for the game’s final out.
Iola’s 4-3 defeat means the Indians will need to win their next three games, starting Tuesday against Garnett. First pitch is at 6 p.m. at Chanute’s Safari Park baseball field.
“That’s what I tell the kids all the time,” Iola head coach Bob Johnson said. “If we make no errors and throw strikes, we’re gonna win every game. Errors are part of the game, but you don’t expect to commit five errors in the first two innings.”
The errors spoiled another sterling start by Iola’s Trevor Church, who struck out nine and allowed a pair of singles over four innings, but was pulled in a strategic move.
Iola trailed 2-0 at the time, and was having trouble squaring up Pittsburg starter Nate Smith, a standout for Liberal, Mo.’s high school baseball team in the spring.
With Church having thrown 75 pitches over the four innings, he would have been ineligible to pitch again before Friday had he thrown any more.
“Trevor threw really well,” Johnson said. “He put us in a good spot.”
Trey Sommer came on in relief, and then was pulled after throwing 44 pitches over 1 1/3 innings, allowing three hits. Korbin Cloud was called on to finish the game, getting the final two outs of the sixth, both via strikeout.
“Trey’s been our No. 2 thrower all season, and Korbin’s been our No. 3,” Johnson said. “They both threw well.”
Iola rallied for its first run in the top of the fifth, when Gavin Page reached on an infield single, and then stole second. Carter Hutton’s line drive single plated Page to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Pittsburg pushed across a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, which proved crucial as Iola mounted its final comeback attempt.
Page walked and Hutton was hit by a pitch with one out before Brandon McKarnin ripped a two-run double to right. Sommer then drew a walk, putting runners at first and second.
