Iola A team out of Zone

Tournament success usually is dependent on pitching. Iola American Legion Post 15’s A Indians had pretty good pitching performances Thursday.
Defensively, the A Indians committed eight errors in each of the games they played and lost. The two losses put the Iola A team out of the 2011 Kansas American Legion A Zone 3 Tournament, which Iola is hosting.
Iola lost 14-5 in five innings to Emporia A-16s. Iola dropped a 6-5 decision to Cherokee in eight innings.
eded team in the zone tournament, had lost to Iola Tuesday. The Lancers forced a second championship game with a 9-4 win over Emporia late Thursday night.
Cherokee and Emporia A-16s played the deciding game Friday night at the Allen County Community College field. The tournament champion advances to the 2011 Kansas American Legion A State Baseball Tournament next week in Salina.
Cherokee rallied from a 5-0 deficit to tie up the elimination game at 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Going to extra innings, Iola got a lead-off single from Aaron Barclay and Shae Beasley drew a walk. Cade Ulrey had come on in relief of Cherokee starting pitcher Riley Clary in the eighth. Ulrey struck out the next three Iola batters.
Barclay took over on the mound for Iola starter Trent Latta following a walk to Dan Peak to start the bottom of the eighth. A throwing error allowed Peak to reach third base. With one out, a sacrifice fly to center field was deep enough to get the winning run home.
Iola had scored five runs in the first innings. Eric Heffern led off with a single then with one gone, Latta and Tyler Clubine drew walks. Derrick Weir smashed a three-run double.
Barclay singled and Trey Wilson drove in a run on a fielder’s choice. Isaiah Grover had a base hit followed by an RBI single by Garrett Catron.
Iola had only five hits in the next seven innings. Iola carried a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh but three errors allowed Cherokee to plate two runs.
Latta went seven innings and was charged with six runs on seven hits and five walks. He struck out four. Barclay came on in the eighth with one on base.
Barclay and Catron each had two singles in the game. Latta and Weir had a double apiece. Hitting a single each were Heffern, Drew Faulhaber, Clubine and Grover.
Iola dropped to the losers bracket after losing 14-5 to Emporia in the early game Thursday. Emporia had five run innings in the first and third. Leading 11-5, Emporia scored three in the fourth and retired Iola to notch a run-ruled victory.
Clubine, Bryce Misenhelter and Thealvin Minor pitched for Iola. They allowed six hits and issued nine walks. Iola had eight errors.
Heffern connected for a single and a double. Latta and Weir each had a triple. Faulhaber, Clubine, Grover and Catron hit a single apiece.