CHANUTE — Iola’s AA American Legion squad had its offense on cruise control throughout all four games of a weekend tournament.
And it was quite a cruise.
The Post 15 Indians were never threatened in crushing Girard, 18-0, Emporia, 18-3, Burlington, 14-3, and host Chanute, 17-5, to run away with the Paul Linblad Tournament title.
Iola scored at least four runs in the first inning of every game, and at least nine in three of the four.
The victories continue a remarkable run for the Indians, who have outscored their last eight opponents by a combined 105-12.
Iola (30-2) wraps up the regular season with a home doubleheader tonight against Osawatomie before heading to Osawatomie Saturday and Sunday for the Kansas Amateur Baseball Association (KABA) League Tournament.
IOLA SET THE tone for the weekend in its opener against Girard, plating 12 runs in the first at bat, on seven hits, five walks and three errors. (Only two of the 12 runs were earned).
Trent Latta twice had RBI singles, while Aaron Barclay’s single drove in one. Mason Coons, Derrick Weir and Jarred Latta drove in runs on successive walks. Weir also had a sacrifice fly during the onslaught. Drew Faulhaber’s two-run single capped the offensive surge.
Iola added four more in the second, including four straight walks to lead off the frame. Jarred Latta’s walk drove in Trent Latta. Another run scored on a Girard error, and Aaron Barclay’s two-run double pushed the lead to 16-0.
Levi Ashmore blasted a leadoff home run over the wall to start the third inning. Drew Faulhaber’s single with two outs plated Trent Latta for the final tally.
Trent Latta earned the win with two scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and one walk with four strikeouts. Nathan Whitcomb also pitched two scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and one walk with five strikeouts.
THE OFFENSE continued to come up aces against Emporia’s A squad. The first 15 Indian batters reached base safely to start the game. Ashmore had a two-run triple and a two-run double, Trent Latta delivered a pair of RBI singles, Mason Coons knocked in a run with a single, as did Jarred Latta and Faulhaber. Weir blasted an RBI double. Tyler Clubine twice drew bases-loaded walks to drive in runs — all in the first.
The Indians scored their final three runs in the second inning. Braden Larson drove in a run on a ground ball, Barclay drove in another with a bases-loaded walk and the final run scored on an Emporia error.
Coons was the beneficiary, allowing five hits in four innings. He walked two and struck out eight.
THE INDIANS struck early again against Burlington, scoring nine in the first frame.
Ashmore led off with a triple, then drove in two more with a double in his second at bat. Trent Latta had an RBI single, Coons drove in runs with a single and a sac fly. Whitcomb delivered an RBI double. Faulhaber drove in a run with a single.
The offense shifted into neutral over the next four innings, as Burlington scored once in the second and twice in the third to close the gap to 9-3.
Iola responded with one in the fifth when Eric Heffern walked and scored on a passed ball. An Ashmore sac fly and a two-run Coons triple were part of a four-run outburst in the sixth.
Barclay got the start, allowing five hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out four. Larson pitched a perfect inning of relief, striking out all three batters he faced.
COMPARED to the first three games of the tournament, Iola’s contest against Chanute was a pitcher’s duel.
Still the Indians scored four in the first, two in the second and four in the third to take a 10-0 lead.
Coons and Weir each delivered RBIs in the first and second frames. Barclay’s two-run double was the big blow in the first.
Trent Latta drove in a run on a Chanute error in the third. Jarred Latta followed with an RBI single. Clubine drove in a run with a double.
Chanute cut the gap to 10-4 before the Indians erupted once again.
The first seven Iola batters reached base in the fifth, including Weir’s two-run triple and Jarred Latta’s run-scoring single. Eric Heffern drove in a run on a Chanute error. Clubine had a sacrifice fly to drive in Larson. Coons drove in the 17th run of the contest with a single.
Clubine picked up the win with four innings of work. He walked four and allowed four hits with four strikeouts. Larson pitched a hitless inning with a strikeout. He hit one batter.
A NON-LEAGUE doubleheader against Burlington scheduled for July 17 has been canceled, Iola manager Neil Barclay announced Sunday.
That means Iola’s next action after the KABA tournament won’t be until the AA Zone Tournament the week of July 22. Iola is the host site of the Zone tournament.
