GARNETT — A game-winning, two-RBI double by outfielder Kale Pratt allowed American Legion Post 15 Indians 19U to end Tuesday’s doubleheader on a positive note with a 3-1 victory over the Garnett Post 48 Muddogs.
The Indians lost the opener, 8-2.
Starting pitcher Easton Weseloh posted three strikeouts in the Muddogs’ final at-bat to hold for the win and improve Iola’s record to 6-4.
“My mechanics felt good. My arm felt good,” Weseloh said. “If I’m messing up, I could fall back on my mechanics. It’s a relief having guys behind me I can rely on. If there is a flyball to center field, I can rely on a guy to catch it. A ground ball to third base or short, I’m always fine.”
In the opener, the Indians failed to gain any traction on recent all-state Garnett pitcher Brayden Wheat, who tallied 11 strikeouts. Post 15 jumped out to an early lead when first baseman Grady Dougherty registered the Indians’ first two RBIs with a single in the opening frame. Garnett responded with five unanswered runs, separated by a fourth-inning RBI triple from outfielder Cole Mathes, then added three more runs to come away with an 8-2 victory.
Starter Gavin Jones took the loss in the opener. He tallied three strikeouts over four innings with four walks and five runs. Mathes stepped in as relief in the fifth inning, tallying a pair of strikeouts while allowing three runs. Mathes and Dougherty tied for the team lead in hits with two each.
“We struggled at the plate a little bit, but we had great pitching in the second game and that helped us a lot,” Coach JT Taylor said. “There was timely hitting there at the end. I knew we were in it until the end. We just had to stick with it.”
The Indians returned to form in the finale. Backed by strong defensive play, responsible for multiple double plays throughout the evening, Weseloh remained confident on the mound as he tallied six strikeouts in the complete-game effort. Post 15 jumped out to an early lead on an RBI single by second baseman Tyler Lord in the opening frame.
After Garnett forced a 1-1 stalemate in the third inning, the finale featured multiple tense moments as both teams had players in scoring position. However, Post 15 was the only team to make the most of its base-runners after Pratt found pay dirt in Iola’s final at-bat.
“He pitched it middle-middle and that was a mistake,” Pratt said. “It went over the shortstop’s head. I had been batting badly all night and finally got a hit. Luckily it was in the moment we needed it. It felt great. It’s a nice feeling to get out of a slump.”
The Indians return to the diamond for a Thursday doubleheader in Ottawa. First pitch is at 6 p.m.
Blake Ellis scoops up a grounder and makes a throw to first base during Tuesday’s doubleheader against Garnett.
“I hope we can ride this momentum into the next game,” Taylor said. “Ottawa is a lot different team than last week. They’ll have a few guys coming back. Hopefully, we’re ready to play and bring the sticks.”
