PITTSBURG — The Iola Post 15 19U Indians’ season got off to a rough start Tuesday, falling in both games of their season opener 12-4 and 3-0 to the Pittsburg Post 64 Silverbacks.
A third inning scoring barrage by Pittsburg sank Iola in the first game, then the Silverbacks held Iola to just one hit in the nightcap to drop the Indians’ record to 0-2.
Tyler Lord took the loss in the opener after allowing seven runs on four hits and three walks, but three poorly timed errors resulted in all but one of those runs being unearned. Facing an 8-0 deficit heading into the fifth inning, the Indians got on the scoreboard following a bases-loaded walk, a sacrifice fly by outfielder Dalton Lingenfelter and a line drive by outfielder Kale Pratt that forced an error, resulting in Iola’s third run of the inning.
Austin Crooks, who entered the contest as a reliever in the fifth inning for a team-leading two strikes, drove in a run in his only at-bat. Pittsburg scored four unanswered runs from there to take the game 12-4.
Third baseman Ty Shaughnessy was the Indians’ leader in hits while successful in 2 of 4 at-bats. Lord, Lingenfelter and Crooks tied for the team lead in RBIs with one each.
Lord registered the Indians’ only hit in the nightcap in a 3-0 loss. Shaughnessy kept Iola in contention with five strikeouts over two innings, then Lingenfelter came on for a pair of innings while tallying a strikeout.
The Indians return to the diamond Thursday, heading to Ottawa for a doubleheader against the Post 60 Arrows. First pitch for the opener is at 6 p.m., followed by an 8 p.m. start for the night cap.
