FORT SCOTT — The Post 15 Double-A Indians went into this season with the clear objective of doing whatever it takes to be prepared for the Zone Tournament and State Tournament later this summer.
Part of that preparation under coach Rick Vink has been playing in 18-and-Under USSSA Tournaments the past two weekends against tougher teams than they will be likely to face at Zone or State.
In the Kansas City Showcase, the Indians were able to advance to the semifinals, but in this weekend’s Fort Scott Tournament, they weren’t able to find the same level of success.
The Indians went winless in the tournament, going 0-4 on Friday and Saturday by losing 4-0 to Pittsburg, 5-3 to Central Missouri, 8-5 to West Memphis and 9-1 to Fort Scott.
vs. PITTSBURG
Derek Bycroft got the start against Pittsburg — his second start of the season — and pitched well, but the team’s defense and lack of offensive production resulted in a 4-0 loss.
“We played a Pittsburg team that has a couple kids from Baxter Springs on its roster as well,” Vink said. “We were in that game the whole time, but we just didn’t hit. Derek threw a good game, but we just couldn’t hit.”
Pittsburg took the lead in the bottom of the first inning with a sacrifice fly giving Pittsburg a 1-0 advantage.
That was the only earned run that Bycroft allowed, but Pittsburg was able to tack on another run in the fourth inning with the help of a passed ball and then they added two more in the fifth inning.
The Indians almost got out of the fifth without any runs, but an error on a potential double-play allowed the lead to grow to 4-0.
Bycroft pitched five innings with the one earned run allowed on six hits and two walks. He struck out six.
Ben Cooper pitched the final inning and shutout Pittsburg with one hit.
Cooper also had two of the team’s three hits in the game.
“We couldn’t get a timely hit,” Vink said. “We played very well though.”
vs. CENTRAL MO
The Indians’ offensive struggles continued against the Central Missouri Phenoms.
The Phenoms brought four squads to the tournament and the Indians had the unfortunate luck of facing the oldest and highest-ranked Phenom squad.
“They are all kids who have graduated and nine of their 13 kids have signed to play college ball,” Vink said.
Central Missouri took a 2-0 lead in the second inning off of Cal Leonard. Leonard pitched three innings and allowed two runs — one earned — on three hits and one walk.
The Phenoms added an insurance run in the sixth inning and the Indians entered the seventh inning trailing 3-0 after not having scored a run in the first 13 innings of the day.
Their offense finally broke through in the seventh frame with three runs to tie the game.
“We only had one hit until the seventh inning, but then we strung together five hits and were able to tie the game,” Vink said.
Bycroft led the inning off with a walk and then back-to-back singles by Lance Daniels and Hunter Friederich — a Chanute substitution for the weekend — loaded the bases.
Leonard came through with a two-run single to keep the line moving and narrow the margin to just 3-2 with still no outs.
The Phenoms forced two-straight pop-outs of Gavin Dillow — another Chanute substitution — and Kane Rogers.
With two outs, it appeared Central Missouri would be able to escape the half inning with the one-run victory.
The hottest bat of the Iola roster stepped to the plate next, however, with the game hanging in the balance. Cooper came through with a single to right field, scoring Friederich and tying the game at 3-3.
After Isaac Vink drew a walk, the inning ended on a strikeout with the bases loaded and the two teams went to the bottom of the inning tied.
The Phenoms started their half of the inning with a single and after Friederich recorded a strikeout, they ended the game with a two-run home run to right field.
The blast made the Indians 0-2 in Friday’s portion of the tournament and sent them into the consolation bracket on Saturday.
In addition to Leonard beginning the game and Friederich pitching the sixth and seventh innings, Cooper and Rogers combined to pitch shutout innings in the fourth and fifth frames.
“That was probably one of the best games we’ve played all season against the best team that we will play all season,” Vink said. “I am super proud of the kids.”
vs. WEST MEMPHIS
The Indians faced West Memphis (Ark.) in the first round of the consolation bracket and gave Cooper the start in his third outing on the mound of the weekend.
Cooper pitched well, giving his team three innings with just allowing one earned run on two hits with no walks.
Errors — which have been a growing problem for the Indians this year — cost the team again with four errors allowing two unearned runs charged to Cooper.
“We didn’t come ready to play in the first game and lost to a West Memphis team that wasn’t a great team and wasn’t a bad team, but was a team that we probably could have beaten,” Vink said.
West Memphis’ lead was 3-1 when Cooper exited after three.
Leonard came in for Cooper and after having to throw 36 pitches the day before, Leonard struggled.
West Memphis scored five runs off of Leonard in the fifth and sixth innings and their lead grew to 8-3 after innings.
Isaac Vink pitched a perfect seventh inning with two strikeouts and the Indian offense scored two runs, but they still 8-5.
vs. FORT SCOTT
In their final game of the tournament, Iola faced the tournament hosts Fort Scott.
Pitching kept the Indians in the game early with Isaac Vink pitching the first three innings and only allowing one earned run on four hits with no walks.
Again, the defense struggled with five errors committed and allowing seven unearned runs.
“We were sitting 0-3 and the kids were done and they are tired,” Coach Vink said. “It is going to be good to have a few days off.”
Fort Scott rolled to a 9-1 victory in five innings.
Leonard led the team at the plate by going 2-for-2.
UP NEXT
The Indians will host Chanute on today at 6 p.m., at Riverside Park if weather permits. If the field at Riverside Park can’t be played on, the game will to moved to Humboldt.
