BALDWIN — To win the 2012 KABA League Senior Division tournament, Iola American Legion Post 15’s AA Indians are going to have to do it the hard way. They will have to work their way through the losers bracket this weekend.
Iola opened with a 13-5 victory over Burlington Thursday afternoon. But Thursday evening, the AA Indians’ rally fell short. They lost 10-7 to Osawatomie.
The Indians (29-3) began their long journey with a 10-5 win over Baldwin at noon Friday. Theyplayed at 7:30 Friday against the winner of Garnett-Wellsville.
Iola would have to win two games Friday to reach the losers bracket final, slated for 2 o’clock this afternoon at Baldwin Ball Complex. The loser of the winners bracket game between Ottawa and Osawatomie on Friday would be waiting there.
Whichever team comes out of the losers bracket final would have to beat the winner of Ottawa-Osawatomie twice to claim the league tournament title.
That means to win the tournament, Iola will have to win five games — two Friday and three today — in extremely hot weather.
The AA Indians have a history of doing that. They won a zone tournament last year coming out of the losers bracket.
On Thursday, Iola came back from a 5-0 deficit to beat Burlington 13-5 in six innings. The Indians came up with four runs in the bottom of the third in response to Burlington’s four runs.
With one out, Levi Ashmore singled and stole second base and Clint Heffern walked. Dalton Smith drove in a run on a base hit. Drew Walden reached on an error and Corey Taylor delivered a three-run double.
Iola claimed the lead with two runs in the fourth. Devon Conner singled and scored on a triple by Ashmore, who came in on a sacrifice fly by Heffern.
Taking advantage of five walks and a hit batter, the Indians came through with five hits and plated seven runs in the fifth. Iola won by a run rule.
Mason Coons was the winning pitcher, allowing seven hits, walking one and striking out three. Ashmore had a single and a triple and Taylor had a single and a double.
Smith, Coons and Conner each hit two singles. Braden Larson tripled.
Against Osawatomie, Iola AA jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Osawatomie scored four runs in the third and two in the fourth for a 6-3 lead. It stayed in front, thwarting Iola’s comeback bid.
Jarred Latta and Walden pitched for Iola. They allowed 10 hits, walked four and hit two batters. Walden struck out six and Latta had two strikeouts.
