OTTAWA — Beating the heat and Osawatomie in one swoop, Iola American Legion Post 15’s AA Indians took their first step toward a consecutive trip to the Kansas American Legion AA state tournament.
In the extended excessive hot weather, Iola stayed in the winners bracket of the Legion AA Zone 2 tournament with a 6-3 win Tuesday. The Indians defeated Osawatomie in Ottawa, which is hosting the tournament.
Tonight’s winners bracket final pits top-seeded Iola (34-3) against second-seeded Ottawa, which beat Baxer Springs 21-7. The two play at 8:30 on Drake Diamond.
The winner moves into the championship game at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
Osawatomie looked to avenge losing to Iola in the KABA tournament Saturday. It scored three runs on three hits — two singles and a home run — in the first inning Tuesday.
Iola starting pitcher Dalton Smith faced just three hitters. Jerrik Sigg come on and pitched seven full scoreless innings. Sigg scattered eight Osawatomie hits and recorded eight strikeouts.
The heavy hitter of the night for the AA Indians was leadoff batter Levi Ashmore. Ashmore was 4-for-4 with two singles, a double and a solo home run.
Iola scored twice in the first inning. Ashmore and Clint Heffern had back-to-back singles, Sigg was hit by a pitch and Drew Walden walked to force a run in. Smith had a fielder’s choice for an RBI.
The Indians scored three runs, two coming on a double by Ashmore in the second to take the lead. Ashmore’s home run came in the fourth.
Sigg doubled for Iola. Hitting a single each were Heffern, Taylor, Smith, Mason Coons, Braden Larson and Jarred Latta.
American Legion AA Zone 2
Tournament Scores
Monday
Osawatomie 11, Fort Scott 2
Baxter Springs 8, Burlington 2
