A rare taste of defeat suddenly makes life more interesting for Iola’s American Legion squad vying for a return to the AA state baseball tournament. A GATE FEE will be collected by Iola American Legion Post 15 members. Citizens Bank is helping sponsor the event.
The defending state champion Post 15 Indians are the hosts and top seed for the upcoming Zone 3 Tournament, which opens Monday at Allen Community College.
The Indians rolled through the KABA League with a perfect 18-0 mark through the regular season, part of a sterling 32-2 overall record. (Both of the losses, it should be noted, were one-run defeats in which their opponents scored in the final inning to take the win.)
That changed last weekend with a stunning 7-0 loss to Fort Scott in the semifinals of the league tournament.
Iola rebounded to win the third-place game and still remains the top seed at 34-3 for the zone tournament.
The Indians stand a good chance of facing the same Fort Scott squad, which holds the second seed with a 16-9 record.
But first things first. Iola will play either fourth seed Garnett (9-17) or fifth seed Burlington (8-21) in its first round game.
Garnett and Burlington will play each other at 6 p.m. Monday at the ACC field.
Fort Scott plays third seed Burlington (11-14) in the other first round contest at 8 p.m. Monday.
The double-elimination tournament resumes Tuesday with the losers of the two first round games playing at 6 p.m. Tuesday in an elimination game, then Iola facing the Garnett-Burlington winner at 8 o’clock.
Another elimination game for the second round losers commences at 6 p.m. Wednesday with the championship semifinal contest following at 8.
The consolation championship is at 6 o’clock Thursday followed by a championship game at 8.
A second championship game, if necessary, will be at 7 p.m. Friday.
Admission for each night is $5 for adults, $3 for students and free of charge for those 6 and younger.
The winners of the eight zone tournaments across Kansas will advance to the AA American Legion State Tournament July 31-Aug. 4 in Pratt.
Indians prepare for zone 3 tourney
