In 2007, Luke Bycroft was head coach of the RiverTree T-ball team. Bycrofts goal was to instill a love and passion for the game of baseball that could be carried on for years to come. Little did he know, this team would be the breeding ground for something bigger.
On that team of 12 years ago were Derek Bycroft, Kane Rogers, Isaac Vink and Ethan Tavarez four future 4A-II Kansas State Champions and current AA Indians that intend to bring the city of Iola its first AAA American Legion State Championship.
The road to becoming a baseball powerhouse has been a long and winding one, with many different figureheads. Coach Bycroft is one of the many pieces of the puzzle.
After moving to Iola more than 12 years ago, Bycroft started coaching a 16U baseball team at the Iola Recreation Department before his two sons, Derek and Dillon, were of age to play ball. When the time came for his sons to play, he couldnt sit in the stands and play spectator, leading to the formation of the RiverTree team.
Specifically to youth baseball, I tried not to take it to a point where I would do anything to detract from them loving the game, Bycroft said. I wanted them to love the game for the rest of their lives, and stay involved in athletics. I take practice seriously, and I wanted them to learn that practice is what you do to prepare yourself to have fun in the game.
Bycroft said having two sons involved in the sport has introduced him to a lot of talent.
Derek recently graduated from Iola High School and is committed to play baseball for Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Derek was the back-to-back 4A state pitcher of the year.
Dillon will be a junior at IHS this year.
I got to be involved with kids a year younger or older than Derek, and the same with Dillon, Bycroft said.
Bycroft said competition against teams from bigger areas helped developed Iolas talent. He specifically remembered a whopping by a Kansas City 8U-level ball club and how the kids began to realize they needed to up their game.
Prior to the core of the group entering high school, Bycroft became aware of the groups potential.
I think they are great kids, and coachable, Bycroft said. As a coach, there is nothing more you could ask for other than a kid to be coachable. The kid could have all the talent in the world, but if he fights you on everything you try to help him with, he wont be enjoyable to coach plus wont be as good as he should be. They are all talented kids too, but their success has to deal with their character and coachability.
Bycroft downplays his role in Iolas baseball success. But players like Kane Rogers, who was a part of the RiverTree T-ball team, and recently graduated from Iola playing in his final season with the Indians, recognizes Bycrofts impact.
Luke has been there forever, Rogers said. He was my coach since I started playing, and has coached me every single year until high school. And even then, he was still throwing batting practice with me whenever I needed it.
Another key cog to the baseball success in Iola has been Rick Vink, who is the current team manager for the AA Iola Indians. His son, Isaac, was a stellar three-sport athlete for Iola, and will be remembered for getting the final out to secure the 2018 4A-II Kansas State Championship. It will be his sons final Legion season, and final time in Iola colors, but the relationships will last longer after the final pitch is thrown.
