Nate Berry has been the perfect teammate all season for the Post 15 Indians. The former Crest Lancer has seen limited playing time this season with a loaded Indians team, stocked with the top talents from Iola and Humboldt’s highly successful baseball programs. Berry hasn’t complained though and has stuck by his team. On Wednesday he had the chance to show what he can do on the mound.
“Nate comes to practice and comes to games knowing that some games he isn’t going to play at all,” Iola coach Rick Vink said. “Early in the year, we were able to get him some reps and he is going to struggle some with the bat because he doesn’t have high school baseball. He has a great attitude and is one of my favorite kids on the team. I’m glad to see him go out and throw a good game.”
Berry got the start against Neosho County, with five of the team’s starters missing because of a basketball camp and other commitments, and Berry excelled.
“Nate didn’t get to play very much at the Showcase and he is a very capable pitcher that we just haven’t been able to find very many innings,” Vink said.
Berry pitched four innings of the 12-4 victory and didn’t allow an earned run while just allowing two hits and two walks.
“I am used to pitching because I did it a lot last year,” Berry said. “My changeup felt really good tonight.”
Despite Berry’s strong performance, Neosho County took a lead in the top of the first inning after Wyatt Seufert — who had the team’s only two hits — scored an unearned run on a wild pitch after making it to third base on an error.
The Indians tied the game in the first inning when Blake Ashmore scored on a single by Ethan Tavarez.
Iola took the lead in the second inning with Ben Cooper scoring on a Casen Barker ground out to make it 2-1.
Neosho County came back with two runs after Jackson Aikens reached on a two-out error. Wyatt Seufert tripled to right field to score Aikens and then scored on a wild pitch.
Neosho County added one more run in the top of the fourth inning to extend the lead to 4-2.
The Indians bounced back with a six-run bottom of the fourth inning with the rally being capped by a two-run home run to right field by Lance Daniels.
“It felt great,” Daniels said of his first career home run. “It felt great coming off the bat and I just had a feeling it was going over the fence.”
The Indians ended the game in the fifth inning with a four-run fifth inning to run rule Neosho County 12-4 after five innings.
BERRY IMPRESSIVE: Berry shines as short-handed Iola knocks off Neosho County
