With the Junior American Legion Kansas State Tournament starting this Wednesday, the A Iola Indians held a fundraising event on Monday. The event was designed as a baseball clinic for younger ball players to improve their skills in pitching, hitting and throwing.
The turnout of 25 kids exceeded the expectations of 20, and the money raised will be going to help pay for accommodations at the Topeka tournament
Other than raising money, Indians team manager John Taylor said the clinics purpose is to get the youngsters familiar with the Indians squad.
Its always a good thing when you have the older kids giving back to the younger kids the skills they have learned, Taylor said. Also, it is nice for the younger kids to meet the older kids so next season they can come out and support them.
Indians pitcher and third baseman, Bradyn Cole, relishes the downtime teaching these young sluggers the tools of being a successful ball player.
It is pretty fun to have the chance to work with these younger kids, Cole said. Its nice to see there are younger kids who love the game of baseball as much as we do. We are getting them started young and working them the same way we do.
Brandon Thomas is a parent, and most recently coached the Piqua State Bank Bitty Ball team at the Iola Recreation Department. Thomas said the younger kids are thrilled to work with the older kids whom they look up to as ball players. The clinic helps foster hope that more baseball success is in Iolas future.
The last five or six years, we have been pretty dominant in baseball, Thomas said. We have good coaches and teach the kids the right way to play baseball. Theres an old saying we dont rebuild, we reload, and that applies to Iola.
The Indians kick off state this Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. against Marysville.
