HUMBOLDT — Trevor Church was his typical dominant self Wednesday, allowing just three hits and striking out 13 in a 3-1 win over Chanute.
Funny thing is, Church’s prowess may have been only the second most impressive pitching performance on the night for the Iola A American Legion squad.
Teammate Trey Sommer tossed a perfect game over five innings in the nightcap, as the Indians won, 3-0.
The victories put Iola in prime position for a top seed when the Zone tournament pairings are set later this month. The Indians are 20-5 on the year overall, and 20-2 in games against other American Legion squads. (The other three losses were to all-star showcase teams.)
“This was the Trevor and Trey show,” Indians head coach Bob Johnson said. “They threw great against a pretty good ball club.”
And while the pitching told the story in both games, Iola’s offense was effective enough against Chanute’s pitchers to claim the win.
Church aided his own cause in the opener, driving in Jarrett Herrmann with a one-out double in the bottom of the second for a 1-0 lead. Carter Hutton singled, Brandon McKarnin walked and Sommer singled to load the bases in the third inning before Hutton scored on a passed ball for the second run. The final tally came when Sam Hull doubled and scored on Rogan Weir’s single.
Chanute was able to wiggle out of trouble repeatedly as Iola threatened to blow the game open. The Indians left runners in scoring position in each of the first five innings, and Weir was tagged out at home on Gavin Page’s fly ball to end the fourth.
But it didn’t matter. Church was well in command. Chanute scored its only run with two outs in the top of the seventh on Cohen Wheeler’s RBI single, but Church induced a weak ground ball back to the pitcher to end the game.
Church, Hull and Logan Page each had doubles to pace Iola’s offensive attack. Hutton, McKarnin, Sommer, Herrmann and Weir added singles.
SOMMER took the baton in Game 2 and never looked back. He didn’t allow the ball to be hit out of the infield until the fourth inning, struck out seven of the 15 batters he faced, and retired six of the remaining eight on ground balls. He needed only 61 pitches to complete the perfecto.
“That may have been as hard as he’s thrown the ball all year,” Johnson said.
After Sommer set the tone by striking out the side in the top of the first, Hutton singled, stole second and scored on McKarnin’s single to give the Indians a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning.
Holden Barker’s leadoff triple in the fourth led to Iola’s final rally of the night. He scored on McKarnin’s ground ball, before Herrmann singled with two outs, moved to second after Mac Leonard was hit by a pitch, and stole third and home.
Herrmann paced the office with a pair of singles. Barker’s triple was the only extra base hit of the contest. Hutton, McKarnin and Weir also had singles.
