AA American Legion State Tourney: Silver Lake, 7, Indians, 3
SABETHA Iolas Post 15 Indians experienced a hitch in their momentum on Friday when they lost to Silver Lake, 7-3.
The Indians had a rough start in their final game of pool play in the Kansas AA American Legion State Tournament, and struggled in all aspects throughout much of the game.
We had some defensive mistakes early that cost us, starting pitcher Ethan Tavarez said. If we hadnt have made those, maybe it wouldve been one run instead of four (in the first inning) and we wouldve been right there. But that and me not being able to throw strikes is what really hurt us.
Iola and Tavarez allowed Silver Lake four runs in the first inning which eclipsed the one run that they had allowed throughout the first two games of the tournament.
Tavarez said he was thrown off by where the umpire was calling strikes and struggled as a result of that.
I had a hard time finding the strike zone, Tavarez said. Ive never had an umpire like the one we had today that liked it as low as he did. I like to throw around the letters and he wasnt having it so I struggled. Toward the end, I did better but I just had too many pitches then. It was the wrong time to start throwing strikes.
Isaac Vink came in in the fifth and allowed two runs in two innings while Kane Rogers finished things off for Iola with a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
Meanwhile, the Indians bats were silent. Iola had only one hit through five innings to go along with a couple of walks. None crossed home plate until the sixth when, trailing 7-0, catcher Casen Barker threaded a single past second base to give Iola their second hit of the game.
I just tried to stay focused as imuch as I could so I could get something going for us, Barker said. We were a little flat.
Center fielder Isaac Vink got on base soon after on a fielders choice and third baseman Daylon Splane followed that with a double to bring home Iolas first run of the game.
An inning later, the Indians were at it again, desperately looking for a rally.
Cal Leonard scored on an error and several batters later, outfielder Conor Haviland singled in Jackson Aikins to get Iola back to within four runs.
Thats as far as Iola would go. The game ended on a pop-out to the Silver Lake second basemen.
It shows that even though we were down seven going into the last couple of innings, we werent done yet, Tavarez said. And even the last hit was just a line-drive right to their guy and you cant help that. We had a couple of guys that hit the ball right to their guys but they were hit hard.
THE INDIANS secured their spot in the championship bracket with their win Thursday so Fridays game was only to determine seeding.
