BURLINGTON — Iola American Legion Post 15’s Indians opened the Burlington tournament by losing to Wellsville Saturday.
The Indians finished the tournament facing Wellsville again for the championship. Iola dominated the title game, winning 14-1 in four innings.
Iola began Sunday’s title game with five runs in the first inning. Wellsville scored its run in the second.
The Indians responded with a nine-run explosion in their half of the inning. Mark Bristol wasn’t just the winning pitcher for Iola. He drove in four runs while going 3-for-3 with two singles and a double.
Bristol gave up just three hits and a walk on the mound. He struck out two.
Clint Heffern also was 3-for-3 in the contest with two singles and a double. Chris Heffern hit a two-run home run in the first inning.
Ryan Latta connected for two singles and a double. Jarred Latta had two base hits. Jerrik Sigg and Corey Taylor each had a single.
Iola rattled off four straight wins after losing to Wellsville 5-3 in the opener Saturday. Ethan Ericson and Jarred Latta pitched for Iola in that game.
Levi Ashmore hit two singles and Bristol doubled. Hitting a single each were R. Latta, Taylor, Ericson and J. Latta.
Next on Saturday, the Indians squeezed past Garnett 4-3. Iola led 3-2 after three innings. Garnett tied the game in the fourth.
Clint Heffern reached on an error followed by a single from Mason Coons. Ashmore moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt. R. Latta drove in the winning run.
Chris Heffern pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on three hits, five walks and one hit batter. He struck out one. Ericson got the final out in the fourth.
Hitting a single each were R. Latta, Sigg, Bristol, Taylor and Coons.
Taylor pitched a two-hitter for Iola in an 11-4 win over West Franklin in three innings. He walked six, hit a batter and struck out five.
Iola scored five runs in the first and West Franklin got three runs. Half of Iola’s four runs in the second came on a home run by Sigg. It was 9-4 when Iola scored two runs in the third.
Ashmore had a double and a single and Ericson hit two singles. R. Latta, Bristol and Cl. Heffern each had a single.
On Sunday, the Indians took on the host team, Burlington and came out with a 13-11 win. Iola scored eight runs in the first. Burlington had an eight-run third.
It was tied at 11-11 after three innings. Back-to-back base hits by Ericson and Cl. Heffern opened Iola’s fifth inning. Coons was safe on a fielder’s choice. Ashmore singled in the go-ahead run.
Coons would scored to put Iola up 13-11. With the bases loaded and one out for Burlington, Ericson got a strikeout before Bristol came on in relief for a strikeout.
Sigg was the starter for Iola. He pitched three innings and was charged with 11 runs on nine hits and three walks. He struck out two. Ericson walked two and had one strikeout.
Bristol was 3-for-3 with a three-run home run in the first inning, a single and a double. Ashmore had four singles in four at-bats. R. Latta cranked out a two-run home run in the third and had a double.
Hitting a single each were Ch. Heffern, Ericson and Cl. Heffern.
Iola hosts Burlington at 6 p.m. Thursday at Allen County Community College’s Red Devil Field.
Iola Post 15 wins Burlington tourney
