HUMBOLDT — After a lackluster split last week against Garnett, the AA Iola Indians came alive Wednesday in a double-header against Ottawa, winning by scores of 9-0 and 15-1.
From the get-go, Iola was focused. Cal Leonard received the game 1 start on the mound for the Indians, pitching the complete five-inning affair.
Ottawa was unable to score a single run off Leonard and it wasn’t until the fourth inning that it managed a hit.
Leonard finished with five strikeouts, allowing one walk and two hits. Head coach Jason Bauer said Leonard has made strides in his game.
“I thought last year he threw decent, but this year he is locked in and not walking kids,” Bauer said. “He is pounding the zone, letting his defense play in behind him, and has been pretty consistent.”
Most of the Indians’ nine runs in game 1 came in the second inning. Iola loaded the bases after two walks and a hit batter to bring up Jackson Aikins. Aikins delivered with an RBI single to give Iola its first run of the game.
Ryker Curry followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, and Jarrett Herrmann slid home safely on a nifty double-steal call by Bauer at third base. Brady Wiggin extended Iola’s lead to 5-0, and Cade Addis added two runs with an RBI double along with stealing home plate.
Both Herrmann and Addis were making their Legion debuts at the Humboldt Sports Complex. Herrmann is an Iola High sophomore, and Addis a student at ACC. Both were needed for the Indians to field a team Wednesday.
“I thank them for coming,” Bauer said.
An RBI from Curry in the fourth, and a hustle play from Zane Whitney on a passed ball equaled the Indians final two runs of game 1. The 9-0 run-rule victory gave the Indians all the confidence they needed for game 2.
Bauer elected to go with Wiggin’s arm for game 2. Bauer, who is also the Iola Recreation Director, said Wiggin has talked up his pitching abilities during his summer job. Wednesday night was his test.
“It was put up, or shut up,” Bauer said. “He mixed up his speed and kept the pitch count low. I was surprised.”
Wiggin pitched the complete four-inning game, allowing one run and three hits while garnering only one strikeout.
The Indians opened the scoring in the first with a run by Aikins off a wild pitch. Addis added two more runs in the first with a two-RBI double, giving Iola a 3-0 lead entering the second.
Iola continued to add to its lead in the second while Ottawa’s pitching failed to find the strike zone. Five Indians were walked in the second, while Iola garnered two hits in the inning. Iola added seven runs in the second, taking a 10-lead into the third.
