After a week-long break, the American Legion Post 15 Indians get back to work in their toughest challenge yet.
With American Legion officials eliminating the zone tournament from this year’s schedule, the Post 15 Indians received a pass directly to the state tournament in Pittsburg.
That’s the good news.
The bad is that the Indians enter as the last seed and face the No. 1 seed Topeka Senators Thursday.
The Indians hope for a return to form beginning Thursday. Until last year, they had enjoyed a four-year run as state champions.
The Post 421 Senators and Indians have not played this season.
The Senators come into the tournament 23-7 with blowout victories over the Ottawa Post 60 Arrows and the Garnett Post 48 Muddogs.
First pitch is 11 a.m.
Regardless of Thursday’s outcome, the Indians will still take the field Friday.
If they beat the Senators, they will face the winner of the Marysville Post 163 vs. Ottawa match-up at 10 a.m. at Jaycee Park.
If the Indians lose, they face the loser of the Marysville-Ottawa match-up at 10 a.m. at Pittsburg State University.
IN PREVIOUS encounters, the Indians have a mixed history with Ottawa and Marysville. Against Ottawa, the Indians fell in their latest contest 10-3 June 22, but swept them 8-4 and 10-0 earlier that month.
The Indians have not faced Marysville this season.
Because it was Marysville that beat the Indians last season, the Indians may still have an ax to grind.
If Post 15 stays undefeated after Friday, they stay at Jaycee Park for a 9 a.m. semifinal game Saturday and then possibly advance to the 11 a.m. championship game Sunday.
If the Indians drop to the consolation bracket, and stay alive Friday, they return to Jaycee Park for a 6 p.m. Friday game. A win there means an 11:30 Saturday game and possibly an 11 a.m. game Sunday.
