PRATT — Timely hitting didn’t come for Iola American Legion Post 15’s A Indians so they could stay in contention at the 2012 Kansas American Legion A State Baseball Tournament.
The A Indians lost the state opener 2-1 to Ozawkie Wednesday. They came back in a losers bracket contest Thursday to beat Paola 11-3.
That win moved Iola ahead in the losers bracket to Friday. But on Friday morning the Indians lost another close one, 3-1 to Hays.
“We out-hit every team we played in the state tournament,” said Neal Barclay, coach for Iola A. “We just never could get any timely hitting and take advantage of some situations that we had.”
On Friday, Aaron Barclay started on the mound for the Indians and pitched five innings. He was charged with three runs on three hits, one walk and one hit batter, plus had one strike- out and took the loss.
Grayson Pearish pitched the final two innings, retiring all six batters. Pearish had two strikeouts.
Hays scored two runs in the second inning in the third game. Iola got on the scoreboard in the sixth.
Hitting a single each were Trent Latta, Trey Wilson, Pearish and Eric Heffern. Coach Barclay said the Indians put the ball in play but were hitting it right at Hays defenders and they made the plays.
In the game Thursday against Paola, the Indians started scoring rallies four times with two gone in each inning. They plated three runs in the first and never trailed. Iola was up 7-3 after four innings.
All 10 of Iola’s hits were singles. The Indians got two each from Barclay, Derrick Weir, Latta and Pearish. Drew Faulhaber and Caleb Vanatta each had one base hit.
Iola A finished 19-8 and tied for fifth at the state tournament with a 1-2 mark.
“It was a great year. The kids did a good job and represented the Iola American Legion well. It’s great that Iola will have two American Legion baseball teams participating in state tournaments this summer,” Barclay said.
Iola AA plays in the Kansas state tournament this week in Sabetha.
