MOUND CITY — The Iola American Legion Post 15 Junior Indians are on the right track under first-year coach Ryker Curry after sweeping Mound City 6-2 and 11-1 in Tuesday’s season opener.
The Indians pitchers were almost unhittable, combining for 23 strikeouts in both contests as Iola looks to keep its early undefeated streak alive Friday when they host the Kansas Curve.
Braylon Keithly picked up the win in the opener. He tallied eight strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings before turning over the mound to Lane Lord, who allowed two runs on two hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Cade Curry picked up the save with a trio of consecutive strikeouts while coming on in the final inning.
After going scoreless in the first four innings, outfielder Jaxen Mueller put the Indians on the scoreboard with a two-RBI single, which tied him with outfielder Max Ebbers for the team lead in RBIs with two each. Mound City scored a pair of runs in response, only for Iola to regain the lead with an RBI single from Lord. An RBI grounder by second baseman Will Disbrow added to Iola’s lead in the seventh, then Ebbers plated a pair of runners with an RBI single for the Indians final score of the opener. Lord and Ebbers tied for the team lead in hits with two each.
Iola pitchers continued to be a problem for Mound City in the nightcap, but a seven-run second inning ultimately made the difference as Iola rolled on for the win.
Mueller got the start and picked up the win with a team-leading four strikeouts before exiting after the second inning. Ty Thomas, Andrew Donovan and Corbin Coffield came on for an inning of relief, with Thomas tallying a strikeout while Donovan and Coffield posted two each.
Mueller put Iola on the scoreboard after reaching home on an errant pitch in the opening frame. During Iola’s next at-bat, bases-loaded walks and errant pitches allowed the Indians to kickstart a 9-0 run over two innings. Coffield registered Iola’s only RBI with a grounder, then Disbrow scored on an errant pitch to wrap up Mound City’s cataclysmic second inning.
Iola added a pair of runs off another pair of errant pitches in the third inning, then added one more in the fifth off an RBI single by first baseman Austin Campbell, giving Iola an 11-1 lead. Coffield closed out the contest with a pair of strikeouts. Campbell and Jones tied for the team lead in hits with one each. Donovan, Curry, Coffield and Campbell tied for the team lead in RBIs with one each.
They return Friday to host the Kansas Curve at noon.
