11-U Iola Indians claim third at World Series

Iola Indians, an 11-and-under traveling baseball team, concluded their season with a third-place finish in the USSSA 11-and-Under A World Series.
Iola competed in the World Series last week in Liberty, Mo. The Indians were 4-1 in the 11-team tournament.
Iola lost 15-14 in a three-hour, nine-inning marathon with Iowa Bombers in the semifinals on Sunday. Pitching for the Indians were Micah Grover, Isaac Vink, Kane Rogers and Ethan Tavarez.
The Indians had opened World Series pool play on Thursday with a 7-5 win over Iowa Bombers. Grover, Vink and Rogers pitched in that game.
Iola got past the Kansas City (Mo.) Twins 9-6 with Coleson Wiggin and Rogers pitching. The Kansas City Twins would eventually win the World Series championship.
Moving into bracket play, Iola handed a 12-4 loss to the Olathe Hawks with Grover on the mound. Iola beat the Kansas City Cardinals 7-6 with Wiggin and Vink pitching. That put them in the semifinals.
Other members of the team are Derrick Bycroft, Ethan Holloway, Corbett Kimberlin, Matt Miller, Alex Morrison, Justice Pugh and Nic Zimmerman. The team has been together for three years.
Last Wednesday was the World Series opening day, which featured several skills competitions. Grover won the accuracy throw by throwing the baseball from behind second base to home plate.
This summer the Iola Indians went 28-4 and were ranked No. 1 in the Kansas USSSA 11A coaches poll.