It was hardly a work of art, but Iola’s AA American Legion squad still got off on the right foot toward a possible second straight state championship.
The Post 15 Indians opened zone tournament play Tuesday with an 8-2 win over Garnett, taking advantage of seven walks and seven Maddog errors.
The win puts Iola in the semifinal round against Osawatomie, which was idle. First pitch is scheduled for 8 o’clock tonight at the Allen Community College baseball field.
“It was a good win, but it was sloppy,” Iola head coach Roland Weir said, pointing to the 11 combined errors between the teams and 14 walks. “We were able to take advantage of some of their mistakes.”
The Indians rode the hot hitting of Levi Ashmore, who tripled, singled twice and scored three runs; and their three-pronged pitching attack, limiting Garnett to four hits with 11 strikeouts.
“Levi’s offense carried us early,” Weir said.
Ashmore’s leadoff triple in the top of the first set up an RBI ground ball by Trent Latta. Mason Coons and Jarred Latta followed with walks before a Garnett error on Derrick Weir’s grounder scored Coons.
A leadoff walk to Drew Faulhaber led to a three-run surge in the top of the second. Faulhaber stole second and scored when Ashmore blasted a line drive off Garnett pitcher Jack Rickabaugh for an infield single.
Trent Latta’s subsequent at bat illustrated Garnett’s fielding troubles. His fly ball to left field was dropped for an error, allowing Ashmore to score. Latta then advanced to third on a throwing error by the Garnett catcher, and scored when Trent Latta’s grounder to second was misplayed for a third error, putting the Indians on top, 5-0.
Aaron Barclay led off the third inning with a walk. He advanced to third on another error and scored on Eric Heffern’s grounder to second. Ashmore reached on a fielder’s choice, then proceeded to make it to third and on home on a pair of passed balls.
Weir led off with a single in the fourth. He scored on Tyler Clubine’s ground-out.
Meanwhile, the Indians’ three-pronged pitching attack kept Garnett at bay.
Barclay got the start and the win. He allowed three hits, three walks and two runs — one earned — in three innings of work with five strikeouts. Clubine pitched three hitless innings in relief. Braden Larson wrapped up the proceedings with a scoreless seventh, striking out the side, while allowing a hit and a walk.
“Aaron did a good job of getting out of some early jams, and Tyler threw the ball extremely well,” Coach Weir said. “Braden did a nice job of keeping them from scoring after they loaded the bases.”
Weir expects the Indian offense to pick up things a notch now that they’ve resumed play following a nine-day layoff.
“We should swing the bats better (tonight) against Osawatomie,” Weir said.
Garnett falls to the consolation bracket to take on Fort Scott, which eliminated Burlington, 16-2, Tuesday. Their game begins at 6 o’clock tonight at the ACC field.
Iola 8, Garnett 2
Iola AB R H BI
Levi Ashmore 5 3 3 1
Trent Latta 3 1 0 2
Mason Coons 3 1 1 0
Jarred Latta 3 0 0 0
Derrick Weir 4 1 1 0
Braden Larson 4 0 1 0
Aaron Barclay 1 1 0 0
Tyler Clubine 2 0 0 1
Drew Faulhaber 3 1 0 0
Eric Heffern 2 0 0 1
Nathan Whitcomb 2 0 0 0
Totals 32 8 6 5
Garnett AB R H BI
Braydon Miller 3 0 0 0
Jordan Folkes 3 0 1 0
Weston Gilbreath 4 0 1 0
Noah Miller 4 1 0 0
Zach Schroader 3 0 1 0
Bryce Dieker 3 1 0 1
Jack Rickabaugh 2 0 0 0
Laydon Stephens 1 0 0 0
Mason Skiles 1 0 1 1
Tanner Lickteig 2 0 0 0
Totals 26 2 4 2
Iola 232 100 0 — 8
Garnett 011 000 0 — 2
Iola IP H R ER BB SO
Barclay (W) 3 3 2 1 3 5
Clubine 3 0 0 0 3 3
Larson 1 1 0 0 1 3
Totals 7 5 2 1 7 11
Garnett
Rickabaugh (L) 5 4 8 5 7 3
Gilbreath 2 2 0 0 0 2
Totals 7 6 8 5 7 5
