The Post 15 Iola Indian coaches were forced to get a little creative in Tuesday evenings home sweep over Chanute (9-4, 5-0).
The Indians (10-2) are fresh off of a four-game tournament in Chanute last weekend and that left their pitching pool rather dry.
So, midway through the first game when starter Ethan Tavarez was wearing down, head coach Levi Ashmore and assistants Brett Lisher and Jason Bauer turned to Jackson Aikins who last took the mound on May 7 versus Caney Valley where he pitched two innings.
The Humboldt Cub incoming junior struggled at times, allowing three runs in his final two innings, but held up strong against a Chanute team that desperately wanted to win at least one of the nights games.
It was definitely an experiment for us coming off of that four-game weekend, head coach Levi Ashmore said. We had to get some guys some rest so Lisher and I looked at each other and decided wed see what Aikins could do. Bauer talked to him between innings and he said he was ready to go. I think he did a pretty good job.
Aikins is the ninth player of the 16 on the Indians roster who has pitched in some capacity this season.
Hes another tool in our toolkit, Ashmore said. We can throw 75 to 80 percent of our team out there and feel good. There arent a lot of teams out there that can say that. Were pretty deep.
Iola and Chanute were locked up at 1-1 after the first inning.
Second baseman Blake Ashmore blew things open in the third with a key double to score Kane Rogers and Lance Daniels. The hit pushed the Indians lead to 4-1.
Ashmore ended the day with two hits between the two games and four RBIs, showing hes growing into a more consistent contributor.
Im hitting the ball a lot better and Im seeing the ball better, Ash-more said. I have three great coaches who teach me stuff and really help me hone in on the little stuff and thats made a difference.
Three more runs crossed in the fourth and one each in the fifth and the sixth to boost Iolas lead to 9-1.
Chanute got a little life, scoring a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to get within five, but no closer.
In game one, Isaac Vink had two singles, Lance Daniels had a single and a triple, Cal Leonard had three singles, Ashmore had a double, Aikins had a single, Tavarez had a double and Casen Barker had a single.
Daylon Splane returned to the mound for Iola in game two and went about things in workmanlike fashion, allowing just three hits and two walks in his five-inning shutout.
Iola was quiet for the first two innings, but exploded in the third, scoring four runs to go up 4-0.
