PITTSBURG — Iola’s senior American Legion baseball team opened the 2021 season Tuesday with plenty of hits, but not much drama.
The Indians split a doubleheader with Pittsburg Post No. 64, erupting for a 13-4 win in the opener, then falling, 11-1, in the nightcap.
The squad consists primarily of Iola players, with standouts from Colony and Humboldt on the roster as well.
Nathan Louk was the hitting star in the opener, rapping out two singles, a double and a triple, while scoring four runs and driving in two.
The Indians put the game away with a nine-run third inning to lead, 11-1.
Louk opened the frame with a single followed by a walk to Noah Ashmore. Both came around to score on an error before Eli Smith followed with an RBI single. Aiden Jones stole home, Zach Beckmon drove in one with a single, and Louk’s two-run triple made it 10-1. Another error sent Louk home for the ninth run of the inning.
The score was 11-4 when Ashmore delivered an RBI single and Smith had a bases-loaded walk to cap the scoring.
Back-to-back doubles by Bradyn Cole and Dillon Bycroft staked Iola to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.
Smith earned the win, giving up four hits over four innings with a strikeout. Beckmon pitched a scoreless fifth.
Cole had a single and double, while Byroft doubled. Adding singles were Ashmore, Beckmon, TJ Taylor, Smith, Trenton Jones and Drake DeLaTorre.
PITTSBURG rebounded with authority in the nightcap, scoring four runs in the first, one in the third and six in the fourth.
The Indians, conversely, were held to one hit, DeLaTorre’s two-out single in the fourth.
DeLaTorre also drove in Iola’s only run with a bases-loaded walk in the top of the fifth.
Cole took the loss. He surrendered six hits over three innings. Beckmon and Aiden Jones pitched in relief. Each gave up a hit.
Iola pitchers walked seven batters in the contest.
