AA American Legion: Indians, 10, Cardinals 0
SABETHA The Post 15 Iola Indians cruised to 10-0 shutout against Hoisington in their first game of the AA American Legion state tournament Wednesday in Sabetha.
Eight hits and nine runs in the first inning opened up the game for the Indians. The entire game lasted one hour over the course of four innings.
We were having tons of fun, said outfielder Isaac Vink. When you come out and put up nine runs in the first inning, its a pretty good feeling.
After Vink opened the bottom of the first with a pop-out to first base, the Indians all reached base in order. Shortstop Derek Bycroft drove in two runs,followed by second baseman Blake Ashmore with a single that drove in two. Third baseman Cal Leonard singled in Ashmore and then with the bases loaded, Vink got a shot to redeem himself, blistering in a double that cleared the bases.
Pitcher Daylon Splane managed to get Vink home two batters later and the nine-run first inning was complete.
From there, the Indians coasted.
In the past when weve got out to a big lead weve relaxed, Bycroft said. We relaxed today but it wasnt a bad relaxed. We knew what we could do and we came out and played our game. The tension relaxed but we still did things the right way and didnt commit any errors or let the lead slip.
Part of holding that shutout was another lights-out performance from Splane. After allowing just one run on two hits in the zone championship game versus Frontenac, Splane did himself one better, allowing two hits again but no runs.
I like how he just attacks the hitters, Bycroft said. He just goes right at them. Hes not afraid of anybody. If somebody gets a hit off of him, hes still not afraid to go right at them. Hell mix it up a lot too and get some curve-balls in there. He has a lot of good stuff. He makes people afraid of him instead of the other way around.
With two outs in the bottom of the third and the Indians needing one more run to secure the run-rule after four innings, first baseman Lance Daniels singled in Splane from second pushing Iolas lead to 10.
Iola faces Russell today at 12:15 p.m. for their second of three pool play games before getting a chance at the championship bracket on Saturday. Russell is coming off of a 13-1 loss to Silver Lake on Wednesday.
No matter who the Indians face throughout the rest of the tournament, they hope theyre run-rule shutout is a tone-setter and a message to the other seven teams here in Sabetha.
I love it, Vink said. I think it puts pressure on the other teams. They know were formidable.
