OSAWATOMIE — Good pitching can stop good hitting.
Iola American Legion’s AA Indians had good pitching in both of Thursday night’s games. The three pitchers who threw allowed just six hits in the two games and five walks.
Unfortunately, Osawatomie’s American Legion team had better pitching. The Osawatomie pitchers stymied the AA Indians’ offense. Iola had four hits — two singles in each game.
Osawatomie won 2-0 in the first game, a seven-inning contest. It won the second game 3-2, which was just a five-inning game.
The Iola AA Indians are 8-2 on the season. They are at a tournament in Osawatomie today.
In Thursday’s opener, Osawatomie used two singles and a walk to manufacture two runs in the bottom of the first inning. That’s all it needed.
Iola stranded seven base runners in the game. The Indians had the two runners on twice — in the fourth and in the seventh — but couldn’t come up with the big hit.
Jerrik Sigg limited Osawatomie to just one more hit in the game and walked only one more. He struck out two.
Dalton Smith and Jarred Latta each had a single in the game.
After two scoreless innings in the nightcap, the Indians broke through. Kris Collins singled to open the third. Devon Conner had a one-out base hit.
Levi Ashmore reached on a fielder’s choice and Collins was caught in a rundown between home and third base. Conner scored on a passed ball and Ashmore followed suit.
Smith, Iola’s starting pitcher, issued two walks to Osawatomie but had retired the two batters between the base-on-balls. Osawatomie came up with two singles and took advantage of another walk to plate three runs.
All the scoring was done in the third inning. Iola only had the two singles it produced in that inning.
Smith took the lose, going three innings and charged with three runs on two hits and three walks plus had three strikeouts. Mason Coons pitched one inning and allowed one hit.
Iola plays at Fort Scott Tuesday and at home Thursday.
