CHANUTE — It was a tale of two teams in Iola’s AA American Legion’s doubleheader split with Chanute Tuesday night. The first game featured a ferocious offense, while the second game saw the Indian bats go silent. After losing only their second game of the season Monday night, the Indians rolled to a 11-1 win in game one against Chanute.
“I thought the first game went very well,” coach Bruce Faulhaber said. “We finally hit a little bit better. The pitching was good, so I thought overall it was a good game.”
The first two innings of the game resulted in only two base runners for Iola, a walk by Jacob Carpenter and a single by Caleb Vanatta. Alex Murrow got the start and got out of a shaky situation in the first inning. With the bases loaded by two singles and one walk, Murrow got out of the inning on two ground outs. In the second inning, Chanute scored on a wild pitch. Murrow settled down after that as Iola’s offense took control starting in the third inning.
Alex Murrow led off the inning with a walk, Kason Siemens came in as a courtesy runner. Siemens would come into score after a single by Eric Heffern. Hunter Murrow and Drew Faulhaber then flew out and grounded out, giving Chanute two outs.
The Indians rallied. Trent Latta nailed a double to deep center field, scoring Heffern. Derrick Weir then hit an RBI-single. Vanatta drew a walk. Pearish followed by hitting a bullet that landed at the base of the outfield wall, scoring both Weir and Vanatta. The Indians now held a 5-1 lead and Murrow downed Chanute in order during the bottom half of the frame.
In the fourth inning, the Indians scored three more runs. Hunter Murrow reached on a single and came around to score on an error. Latta hit a dribbler back to the pitcher, who took too long to try and get Faulhaber, who walked, out at second. Weir came up with a ground out to the shortstop, which scored a run. Latta eventually scored on a wild pitch. Again, Alex Murrow followed up the Indian offense with a 1-2-3 inning.
The Indians would get the 10-run lead in the fifth inning. Hunter Murrow had an RBI-single. With the bases loaded, Latta drew an RBI-walk. Weir finished the scoring with a sacrifice fly to left field. Alex Murrow finished off Chanute, only allowing one hit in the bottom of the inning, but no runs. After five innings the game was run-ruled, the Indians ahead by 11-1.
Overall, Alex Murrow only allowed one run on five hits and two walks. He had four strikeouts. Latta and Weir led the offense with three RBIs apiece. Pearish had two RBIs. Hunter Murrow and Pearish both had two hits. The game was reminiscent to how the Indians had played all year long.
GAME TWO saw Chanute stymie the Indian offense. Iola had only two base runners. Latta had a single in the first inning and Faulhaber drew a walk in the fourth inning.
“One bad inning,” coach Faulhaber said. “The bats went quiet, we only had one hit. The defense was OK. We’ve got to sharpen things up and get ready for this weekend.”
One key hit in the second inning opened up the game for Chanute. Aaron Barclay got the start and was able to pitch around some trouble in the first inning. With one out and the bases loaded, he got a double play. A ball was hit to him at the pitcher’s mound, he threw to Alex Murrow at home plate, who turned and fired down to first base for the second out of the double play to end the inning.
Barclay couldn’t pitch around the trouble in the second inning. With the bases loaded and one out, he walked in a run. The key hit came on a single, scoring two runs. That’s all Chanute would need to win 3-0.
The Indians’ (26-3) next game will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday during the KABA Upper Division tournament at Humboldt Sports Complex. They are the number one seed and play the winner between Chanute and Wellsville taking place at 10 a.m.
