PAOLA — Game one was a cruise to victory for Iola American Legion’s AA Indians. Game two Tuesday night was a come-from-behind nail-biter.
Both games, 10-1 and 4-3, went down in the win column for Iola against Paola. Iola’s record is now 23-2.
Iola hosts Chanute Thursday at Allen Community College for a doubleheader. First pitch is at 6 p.m.
The AA Indians are trying to reschedule a rained-out home twin bill with Ottawa for Sunday, said Mike Taylor, Iola head coach.
The KABA American Legion League tournament begins Monday with play-in games. The tournament — Thursday, Friday, Saturday — is in Baldwin.
The Indians used a six-run second inning to roll past Paola Tuesday in the opener. They added a run in the fifth and three more in the seventh for a 10-0 lead.
Paola’s run came on a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Jerrik Sigg was the winning pitcher for Iola, going six innings on the mound. He allowed no runs on two hits, four walks and one hit batter. He struck out eight.
Levi Ashmore pitched one inning and charged with one run on one hit. He has two strikeouts.
Drew Walden and Braden Larson delivered two singles each for Iola. Hitting a single apiece were Clint Heffern, Corey Taylor, Dalton Smith and Mason Coons.
In the nightcap, the Indians came up with the go-ahead run in the fourth. Paola had rallied to tie the game at 3-3
With one gone in the fourth, Larson drew a walk then Devon Conner reached on a fielder’s choice. Kris Collins got aboard via a base-on-balls.
Jarred Latta connected for an RBI base hit to put Iola up 4-3.
Iola defense and Dalton Smith held Paola scoreless for two innings for the win. Smith gave up three hits and walked three plus struck out two.
Smith and the Indians had to work around a one-out single in the fifth. With the tying run on base, Smith got two ground ball outs to end the game.
