Iola American Legion’s A Indians have gone undefeated at home this summer. They only had four games on their home field and those have come in the past four days.
The A Indians rolled over visiting Eureka 14-0 in Monday’s opener, scoring eight runs in the first inning. They got up on Eureka 11-2 and held on to win 12-11 in the nightcap.
The doubleheader sweep put the Indians at 9-2 on the season. Iola goes to Eureka Wednesday then to Baldwin on Saturday.
Iola’s A Indians play at Baxter Springs on July 7 then finish their regular season in a tournament at Baldwin July 13-15.
The eight-run first inning of the opener was punctuated by a grand slam off the bat of Thealvin Minor. Eureka pitching issued four walks and hit a batter in the inning.
Grayson Pearish doubled in two runs in the inning.
Drew Faulhaber, Derrick Weir and Shea Beasley each had two singles. Caleb Vanatta, Aaron Barclay and Eric Heffern had a single apiece.
Trent Latta was the winning pitcher, going four innings and allowing three hits and one walk and striking four out. Beasley pitched one inning.
In the second game, Iola used a six-run second inning to gain a 9-1 lead and was up 11-2 after three innings. Eureka scored nine runs in the final two innings but Iola had an insurance run in the fourth.
Pearish started on the mound for Iola and worked two innings then Weir pitched one inning. Combined they allowed two runs on three hits and four walks.
Minor pitched one inning and was charged with three runs on three hits and Faulhaber worked two-thirds of an inning, giving up six runs on three hits and three walks. Barclay got the final out of the game.
Weir led the Iola offense with a single and a double. Latta, Heffern and Kohl Endicott each had a double. Hitting a single each were Faulhaber, Vanatta, Barclay, Pearish and Minor.
