The Iola American Legion Post 15 Junior Indians suffered their first loss of the year following a 16-2 drubbing by the Kansas Curve of Wichita.
Originally scheduled for nine innings, the Indians only made it to eight after the Curve scored nine unanswered runs Friday night at Allen’s Alumni Park.
“The score doesn’t show it, but we had better at-bats than we did against Mound City,” Iola coach Ryker Curry said. “We were battling more. We had better at-bats as a whole, but they were a better team. It’s good for us to face it now so we know what to expect in the postseason.”
Scoreless after the opening frame, the Curve’s second inning was a prelude of things to come, as they jumped out to a 7-0 lead. The Indians responded with starting pitcher Braylon Keithly putting the Indians on the scoreboard after reaching on an errant pitch. Moments later, a base-clearing triple by Lane Lord plated outfielder Max Ebberts. But that was as close as Iola would get. The Curve held the Indians scoreless over the next six innings, increasing their lead until forcing a 16-2 mercy-rule.
“All we can do is get better from this, and continue to work hard,” Curry said.
Iola fielded a cadre of pitchers Friday. Keithly took the loss after striking out a trio of batters but allowing seven runs on five hits and a walk. Relievers Lord, Cade Curry and Jaxen Mueller posted a pair of strikeouts in their limited appearances and reliever Thomas Allee had a strikeout while relieving Keithly in the second and third innings.
Lord registered the Indians’ only RBI while tying Allee and catcher Andrew Donovan for the team lead in hits with one each. With the loss, the Indians’ record fell to 2-1. They return to the diamond Wednesday for a doubleheader against Chanute, then host Wellsville at Alumni Park for a Friday doubleheader.
“We go down to Chanute Wednesday, and that will be a good match-up,” Curry said. “It will be good just to play somebody different and get this bad taste out of our mouths.”
First pitch for Wednesday’s games is 6 p.m. for the opener and 8 p.m. for the nightcap. First pitch for Friday’s games is 6 p.m. for the opener and 8 p.m. for the nightcap.
