After a near impossible comeback in game 1, the A Iola Indians routed Chanute in game 2, and earned a split in Wednesdays American Legion doubleheader at Riverside Park.
Iola dropped game 1, 8-9 and took game 2 with ease, 6-1.
Chanute struck first by picking up two runs in the top half of the first inning. The Indians responded in the second inning. Dillon Slaven smacked a grounder to the Chanute shortstop, allowing Dillon Bycroft to score off a Chanute error. Same story for the tying run. TJ Taylors grounder to third was mishandled by Chanutes third baseman which allowed Slaven to score.
The Indians took their first and only lead of the game in the following inning. Bycroft picked up an RBI after his hit brought home Cooper Riley to make it 3-2 Iola.
The next inning Iola gave the lead right back. And the deficit increased to six by the time the Indians were left to their final three outs.
Then the bats came alive.
Iola scored five in the seventh inning courtesy of RBIs from Bradyn Cole, Drake Sellman, Drake DeLaTorre, and an RBI double from Kole Rogers.
Ultimately the flurry of runs were too little too late.
Game 2 started off quiet. Neither side got a runner across the plate till the third inning when Chanute took the lead, putting the Indians into a small one run hole, but Iola responded.
The Indians scored three in the bottom half of the inning. Iolas scoring got started when Ryker Currys sharply hit grounder to first was mishandled by Chanutes first baseman bringing home Trevor Church to tie it up. The Indians took the lead when Bycroft blasted one toward left field over the wall for a two-run homerun making it 3-1 Iola.
The pitching staff silenced Chanute for the rest of the afternoon. Nathan Louk, Eli Smith, and Bycroft combined for eight strikeouts in the five-inning game.
Iola added onto its lead in the bottom of the fourth. Louks RBI double scored Tyson Hermreck and Church. Then Curry brought home Louk off a line drive to center field.
NEXT UP: The A Indians travel to Fort Scott for the Adam LaRoche U16 tournament Friday and Saturday.
