FORT SCOTT — On the road once again — make that still, Iola American Legion’s AA Indians racked up two more victories Tuesday night.
Iola AA defeated Fort Scott 9-3 and 11-0, in four innings, improving to 13-2 on the season. The Indians have yet to play a game at home.
Head coach Mike Taylor told the Register he was checking today on the status of the Allen Community College baseball field. Red Devil Field was having work done on it this summer. It has served as the home field for the AA Legion team the past few summers.
Iola AA is scheduled to host Ottawa Thursday at 6 p.m.
On Tuesday, the Indians broke open a close game with a four-run fourth inning. Clint Heffern drove in Iola’s first two runs with singles in the first and third innings.
Taking advantage of two walks issued by Fort Scott pitching in the fourth, Levi Ashmore smashed a bases-loaded triple. He scored on a single by Jerrik Sigg. Iola led 6-1.
Devon Conner, who was 3-for-3 in the game, delivered a two-run single in the fifth to push Iola’s lead to 9-1. Fort Scott scored twice in the bottom of the inning.
Jarred Latta picked up the pitching victory going 2 2/3 innings and allowing one run on three hits and four walks. Heffern worked 1 2/3 innings and was charged with two runs on one hit and one walk. Corey Taylor pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball but did give up one hit and walked five.
Iola’s defense rolled up two double plays in the game. It also committed four errors.
Conner had three singles while Heffern and Sigg added two singles each. Along with Ashmore’s triple, the AA Indians’ Drew Walden, Taylor and Dalton Smith each reached base.
Smith, Mason Coons and Walden combined for a shutout in the second game. Smith started and pitched two innings. Coons and Walden each worked an inning.
The trio of pitchers held Fort Scott to two hits, issued four walks and hit a batter.
Iola pushed across three runs in the first inning. The Indians opened the second with four hits. When the dust settled, Iola scored seven runs. Iola added a run in the third.
Ashmore was 3-for-3 with two doubles and a single. Smith singled and doubled and Sigg hit two singles. Walden tripled. Hitting a single each were Taylor, Braden Larson and Latta.
