HUMBOLDT — The Post 15 Indians came into the American Legion Zone Two tournament with the expressed purpose of proving without a doubt that, despite their three seed, they were the best team in the tournament.
They got off to a good start Tuesday night as they flew past the Whitewater-Remington Broncos, run-ruling them in five innings 10-8.
Iola went into the bottom of the fifth up by seven looking to get one more run to end the game. Starting pitcher Isaac Vink doubled up the gap in center field to lead outfielder Daylon Splane to single to right field on the first pitch, bringing Vink home and ending the game.
Vink led all batters in hits with three and going scoreless on the mound before giving up two runs in the third inning.
“I wanted to come out strong in that first inning and hold them down and then get some runs on the board,” Vink said. “We wanted to get that momentum.”
Vink gave up just two hits in those three innings and recorded five strikeouts
Meanwhile the Indians’ offense got off to a hot start, nearly batting around in the bottom of the first, scoring five runs.
“We hit the ball all over the place,” head coach Rick Vink said. “I think everybody was able to contribute one way or another. We got some kids in who normally don’t get to play a lot. We couldn’t really ask for much more than we did. It was definitely a good start and we’re two games away from where we want to be.”
Iola put up three more in the bottom of the second to take a 8-0 lead before the Broncos hit back scoring two runs on two hits and two walks with two outs in the top of the third.
“Isaac hasn’t thrown a ton of innings but he’s pitched more as of late because he’s been throwing well,” Rick Vink said. “He threw 28 pitches in the first two innings and 26 in the third and that’s a location problem but I also think the strike zone changed a little bit once we got ahead and that’s a little frustrating as a player and a coach. But he fought through it and did a good job.”
Iola was able to get one run back in the bottom of third with a two-out single from Lance Daniels that scored Splane.
Nate Barry came in to close the the final two innings and did so convincingly, allowing no runs and just one hit.
The Indians will be back in action tonight at 6 p.m. versus Frontenac. Ben Cooper will get the start, bringing his 2.73 ERA over 33.1 innings pitched.
A win tonight will put Iola in the championship game on Thursday.
NOTHING TO IT: Indians breeze through first round of zone tournament
