The Iola Indians’ Single-A American Legion team avoided having its season ended on Monday when they topped Emporia 11-9 in zone playoff action.
Blake Ashmore led the Indians to the win by reaching base four times and coming around to score each time.
“Blake hit the ball really well all day,” Iola coach Kris Collins said. “Even his out was drilled to the center fielder. He stepped up in a big way, just like he has all year for us.”
Casen Barker also had a strong game at the plate. The Iola left fielder reached base all four times he came to the plate and notched a pair of doubles.
“Barker and Calvin Delich are our younger kids, but even though they are only eighth –graders, they are really stepping up,” Collins said. “Barker has struggled to hit the ball but he is really coming around and hit the ball well in that game.”
Iola was facing elimination due to a 7-4 loss to the Kansas Senators from Topeka, but with Hesston Murrow on the mound to start and Wyatt Seufert relieving him, Iola was able to topple Emporia to set up a potential rematch with the Senators.
Murrow surrendered six runs in his three innings of work and Seufert came in for the fourth inning and immediately gave up three runs, but buckled down to end the game with three straight scoreless frames.
“Murrow started and pitched the first three innings and even though he wasn’t pitching bad, they hit the ball off him,” Collins said. “Seufert came in and closed it out with four great innings.”
The Senators and Ottawa will face off with the loser of that game being matched up with Iola in a winner-go-home game.
That game will happen at 6 p.m. in Chanute tonight. Nate Berry will take the mound for the Indians and Collins is excited to see what he can do.
“Berry is our lefty and he will throw a lot of strikes for us,” Collins said.
