The Iola Indians single-A team was in need of a strong start in the second game of their doubleheader against Chanute on Wednesday. That is precisely what Xavier Bauer delivered.
“These kids needed a boast of confidence,” Iola coach Brian Dillow said. “We’d been struggling defensively, but for them to come out and have the defense and the pitching work for us was big. I’m proud of them because they found a way to get a ‘W.’”
The Humboldt junior stepped up after his team lost the opener to Chanute 10-5 at Riverside Park. He pitched 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball and Iola carried a 4-1 lead into the fifth and final inning.
“I felt great,” Bauer said. “I threw a lot of strikes and had a pretty good game. The lead helps a lot.”
It was exactly what Dillow wanted.
“Xavier was pitching lights out,” Dillow said. “Our defense backed him up and when your defense works for you, that boosts your pitcher’s confidence.”
Bauer was quick after the game to credit his defense for their strong play.
“It was great to see (our defense) play the way they did,” Bauer said. “I felt great with them behind me.”
In the fifth, Bauer got a pop out to shortstop Isaac Badders — who was filling in for the team that had two players missing — and after allowing a base-runner, Hunter Baughn made a stellar stop at third and got the lead runner out at second.
The biggest defensive play of the game came after Bauer exited though.
After loading the bases, Dillow pulled Bauer and inserted Teryn Johnson. Johnson battled his control with a hit batter and Chanute was able to creep within 4-3 with the bases loaded and two outs.
Johnson, a Humboldt junior, was able to buckle down and induce a pop up. The ball carried, however, and Badders had to range far behind second base to haul in a running catch.
The play ended the game and may have saved the game for Iola as two runs would have surely scored if the ball had found the grass.
“That was a big win,” Bauer said. “I brings our confidence up and hopefully we can get some more.”
UP NEXT
The Indians will play in Mound City on Friday with a doubleheader starting at 6 p.m.
“Our goal is to get better every day, so at the end of the year we are playing our best baseball when we get to (the zone tournament),” Dillow said.
