GREAT BEND — Runs were at a premium Wednesday for Iola’s A Indian Junior American Legion baseball squad.
The Indians left four runners in scoring position against the tough pitching of Overbrook, falling 6-2 in the opening round of the Junior American Legion State Tournament.
The loss does not eliminate the Indians from a potential state title, but they must win their next two games — Thursday against Newton and Friday against Pittsburg — to have a realistic shot at advancing to the championship bracket Saturday.
The Indians had their chances against Overbrook’s pitchers, but left runners on second and third in the seventh and final inning, as well as leaving runners on second base in both the second and sixth innings.
Overbrook was a bit more successful at converting its scoring opportunities.
The Bombers took a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first before Iola responded with a run in the top of the second.
Grady Dougherty led off with a single for Iola in the second inning, and came around to score on a two-out double by Cole Mathes.
But Mathes was left stranded there, and Iola didn’t record a base runner until Cole Mathes walked with two outs in the fifth.
By then, the Bombers had extended their lead to 5-1.
Still, Iola didn’t go down without a fight.
Blake Ellis led off the top of the sixth with a bunt single and came around to score on Logan Page’s two-out double. But Page advanced no further as the inning ended with a grounder.
The Indians’ last gasp came in the top of the seventh, when Hayden Johnson walked with one out. He advanced to third two batters later on Payton Houk’s double. But neither scored when Overbrook’s Theron Berkefeldt ended the game without any other damage.
Iola’s Noah Gleue, Houk and Lucas Maier shared pitching duties. They combined to allow five walks and nine hits with five strikeouts.
At the plate, Houk, Mathes and Logan Page each had doubles for Iola. Ellis, Ryan Golden and Dougherty had singles.
Iola’s game against Newton will begin at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday in the Great Bend Sports Complex.
