While in the midst of a remarkable string of winning baseball, Iola’s American Legion squad found itself in a rare position Monday evening — trailing on the scoreboard. A LEADOFF triple by Osawatomie’s Austin Chisam sparked a two-run first inning, putting Iola behind on the scoreboard for the first time since June 24. WHITCOMB picked up the baton in the second game and never looked back. Iola 10, Osawatomie 2 lola 5, Osawatomie 0
The deficit lasted all of half an inning.
The Post 15 AA Indians spotted visiting Osawatomie a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but responded in its half to tie the score.
Osawatomie’s offense hit the skids after that, while Iola’s hummed along.
The Indians scored eight runs over the final three innings to win the opener of their doubleheader, 10-2.
Then, Iola’s Nathan Whitcomb tossed a five-inning no-hitter in the nightcap of the Indians’ 5-0 victory.
The victories put the finishing touches on a sterling regular season for Iola (30-2). The Indians rolled through the Kansas Amateur Baseball Association League with a perfect 18-0 mark.
“This is an easy group of kids to coach,” Indian head coach Roland Weir said. “They’ve continued with the success most of these kids had in high school.”
Iola travels to Osawatomie Saturday and Sunday to partake in the KABA League Tournament. Brackets in the double-elimination tournament will be announced sometime Wednesday.
Iola starter Trent Latta allowed two runs on three hits in the frame, then just two hits after that.
The Indians knotted the score in the bottom of the first. Levi Ashmore singled before Latta and Mason Coons walked to load the bases. Derrick Weir drilled a sacrifice fly for the first run. Braden Larson’s single tied it.
Known more for his stick, Weir’s legs helped put Iola on top for good in the third. Coons led off the frame with a walk, then scored when Weir ripped a double over the Osawatomie center fielder.
Jarred Latta smacked a ground ball to Oz third baseman Michael Pursley, who attempted to hold Weir at second before throwing to first for the out.
But Weir raced to third as soon as Pursley released the ball. Osawatomie’s Dustin Ohlmeier rushed his throw back across the diamond, and the ball rolled into foul territory as Weir rounded third and made it home for a 4-2 lead.
Drew Faulhaber’s walk and Eric Heffern’s single to start the fourth inning sparked a four-run rally for Iola. Trent Latta followed with an RBI single, as did Coons, Jarred Latta and Barclay to end the surge.
Ashmore singled, stole second and third and scored on Coons’ single in the fifth to end the game when the margin reached eight runs.
Trent Latta allowed five hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. His nifty catch in the top of the fifth thwarted an Osawatomie rally before it started.
After walking the leadoff batter, he induced a soft liner back to the mound by Osawatomie’s Ben Dorsett. Latta reached across his body, snared the ball before it hit the ground, then spun and tossed to first to complete the double plate.
That was key as the next three Osawatomie batters reached base. Latta struck out Devon Ayres — on three pitches — to end the threat.
He walked one hitter and hit two batters with pitches, but allowed nary a hit. Whitcomb was particularly effective with his fastball, keeping Osawatomie’s hitters off balance from start to finish. He struck out seven and retired 12 of the final 13 batters.
Tyler Clubine kicked off the offense with a two-run double in the second. Jarred Latta, who went 3-for-3 in the game, drilled an RBI single in the third to push Iola on top 3-0.
Faulhaber smacked an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to score Clubine. Coons drilled a single three batters later to score Trent Latta for the final run.
Osawatomie AB R H BI
Austin Chisam 2 1 2 0
Devon Ayres 2 1 0 0
Jake Bradley 2 0 0 0
Dustin Ohlmeier 2 0 0 1
Alan Pryor 2 0 1 1
Chase Brown 2 0 1 0
Jake Allen 1 0 0 0
Ben Dorsett 2 0 0 0
Trae Clayton 1 0 0 0
Michael Pursley 2 0 1 0
Totals 18 2 5 2
Iola AB R H BI
Levi Ashmore 4 2 2 0
Trent Latta 2 2 1 1
Mason Coons 2 2 2 2
Derrick Weir 2 1 1 2
Jarred Latta 3 1 1 1
Braden Larson 2 0 2 1
Aaron Barclay 3 0 1 1
Drew Faulhaber 2 1 0 0
Eric Heffern 2 1 1 0
Totals 22 10 11 4
Osawatomie 200 00 — 2
Iola 202 51 — 10
LOB-Osawatomie 5, Iola 7. ERR-Dustin Ohlmeier. 2B-Derrick Weir. 3B-Austin Chisam. HBP-Devon Ayres, Trae Clayton. SACF-Derrick Weir. SB-Devon Ayres, Levi Ashmore (2).
Osawatomie IP H R ER BB SO
Jake Allen (L) 3â
6 8 7 6 1
Austin Chisam â
3 1 1 0 2
Andy Blanton â
2 1 1 1 0
Iola
Trent Latta (W) 5 5 2 2 2 8
Osawatomie AB R H BI
Austin Chisam 1 0 0 0
Devon Ayres 1 0 0 0
Jake Bradley 2 0 0 0
Dustin Ohlmeier 1 0 0 0
Alan Pryor 1 0 0 0
Chase Brown 2 0 0 0
Jake Allen 2 0 0 0
Andy Blanton 2 0 0 0
Michael Pursley 2 0 0 0
Totals 14 0 0 0
Iola AB R H BI
Levi Ashmore 3 0 1 0
Trent Latta 2 2 1 0
Mason Coons 2 0 1 0
Derrick Weir 2 0 0 0
Jarred Latta 3 1 3 1
Braden Larson 3 0 0 0
Nathan Whitcomb 1 1 0 0
Tyler Clubine 2 1 1 2
Eric Heffern 1 0 0 0
Drew Faulhaber 1 0 1 1
Totals 20 5 8 5
Osawatomie 000 00 — 0
Iola 021 2x — 5
LOB-Osawatomie 3, Iola 7. Error-Devon Ayres, Michael Pursley, Trae Clayton. 2B-Tyler Clubine. HBP-Alan Pryor, Austin Chisam, Trent Latta. SACB-Devon Ayres.
Osawatomie IP H R ER BB SO
Trae Clayton (L) 3â
8 5 3 3 3
Andy Blanton â
0 0 0 0 0
Iola
Nathan Whitcomb 5 0 0 0 1 7
Early deficit no problem for AA Indians
