WAHPETON, N.D. — Iola American Legion Leslie J. Campbell Post 15’s AA Indians set a tone right off the bat in Thursday’s opening round.
The Indians appeared to be in a score-fest with Grafton, N.D., but after two innings, most of the scoring was done by Iola. Iola matched Grafton run-for-run in those two innings for a 3-3 tie.
Iola broke the game open with three runs in the third frame and four more runs in the fourth inning. The Indians posted an 11-4 victory to advance in the 2012 American Legion Central Plains Division 2 Regional Tournament.
The Indians lost to Ely, Minn., 9-6 Friday afternoon dropping them into the losers bracket. They faced Wisconsin Dells Friday evening. Wisconsin Dells was an 8-3 winner over Groton, S.D., in an elimination game earlier Friday.
If the Indians beat Wisconsin Dells Friday, they play at 4 o’clock or 7 o’clock today. The losers bracket winners will be placed in games according to previous opponents rule.
Check iolaregister.com on facebook to find out Friday night’s results.
Ely edged Las Vegas, Nev., 1-0 Thursday.
In the other two opening day games, Plato, Minn., beat Wisconsin Dells, Wisc., 3-2 in 10 innings.; Wahpeton, the host team, pulled out a 4-3 victory over Groton, S.D.
Las Vegas eliminated Grafton 4-3 Friday morning.
Leading the offensive outburst was Corey Taylor, who was 3-for-4 with two doubles and a single while driving in three runs. Clint Heffern, Mason Coons and Jerrik Sigg each connected for a double.
Dalton Smith, Drew Walden and Braden Larson hit a single apiece. Levi Ashmore beat out a bunt for a base hit.
Grafton took advantage of a hit batter and a walk to open the first inning. It drove in two runs on two singles.
The Indians answered in the bottom of the first. With one out, Heffern doubled and Sigg drew a walk. A wild pitch moved the runners up and Walden’s ground out produced a run. Smith cranked out an RBI single. Taylor doubled but Smith was tagged out at the plate.
Grafton regained the lead in the second with a run. Coons and Jarred Latta worked back-to-back walks to start the Indians’ second. Ashmore loaded the bases with a bunt single then Heffern drove in the tying run on a sacrifice bunt.
Sigg, who was the winning pitcher, retired Grafton in order in the third inning. Walden triggered a three-run surge by the Indians in the bottom half of the inning. He went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a one-our single by Taylor.
