Iola’s American Legion squad was able to erase the bitter taste of its first — and so far, only — loss of the 2013 season with a doubleheader sweep Tuesday. IOLA MANAGED only five hits in the second game, but three went for extra bases. Meanwhile, West Franklin committed two errors and had five walks as Iola scored in every inning. IOLA RESUMES play at home Thursday against Girard. First pitch is at 6 p.m.
The Post No. 15 AA Indians rolled behind the pitching of Nathan Whitcomb in the opener, 8-0, and took advantage of a number of West Franklin miscues in the nightcap, a 9-4 victory.
The wins came after a rain-shorted, one-run loss over the weekend to an academy team out of Kansas City.
Iola (15-1) took an early lead against West Franklin in the opener, but didn’t seize full control until Levi Ashmore’s bases-clearing double in the bottom of the fourth. The blast turned a 3-0 lead into a 6-0 advantage, scoring Drew Faulhaber, Whitcomb and Eric Heffern, each of whom reached via a walk or hit-by-pitch.
Singles by Mason Coons and Derrick Weir to lead off the fifth led to a pair of runs, including the eighth and final run from Trent Latta’s RBI single, ending the game.
Whitcomb stifled the Falcon offense on two hits, although he twice had to work out of bases-loaded situations.
West Franklin loaded the bases in the top of the second, with Iola on top just 1-0, before Whitcomb struck out the Falcons’ Klayton Lacey to end the threat. A single and two walks loaded the bases for the Falcons in the fifth before Whitcomb struck out Oaklee Homer to end the inning.
Whitcomb walked four over five innings, while striking out nine.
Ashmore’s leadoff walk and stolen base led to Jarred Latta’s RBI single to begin Iola’s scoring in the first. Two straight West Franklin errors with two outs in the second allowed Whitcomb to score, putting the Indians up, 2-0.
Braden Larson’s leadoff single led to the decisive rally in the fourth. Trent Latta followed with a walk, as did Faulhaber. Whitcomb was hit by a pitch and Heffern walked. A wild pitch scored Trent Latta to push the lead to 3-0. Ashmore’s blast off the left-center field fence cleared the bases.
Coons and Weir each had two hits to pace the Indian offense. Ashmore had a double. Jarred Latta, Trent Latta and Larson each singled once.
Walks to Ashmore and Jacob Rhoads to lead off the first led to an RBI ground ball by Whitcomb and a passed ball, allowing Rhoads to score.
The Falcons evened the score at 2-2 in the top of the second before Iola took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning. Tyler Clubine was hit by a pitch to start the frame. He moved to second on an error and to third on a passed ball, where he scored on Larson’s sac fly.
Ashmore singled to lead off the third, where he moved to second on a balk and scored on Coons’ single. Coons came around to score on another Falcon error. Trent Latta’s grounder to first scored Whitcomb, pushing the Indians up 6-2.
The lead was 6-4 when Iola plated its final three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Faulhaber doubled to lead off the inning. He scored when Ashmore tripled three batters later. Ashmore and Rhoads each followed by scoring on passed balls to end the scoring.
Clubine got the win. He allowed three hits over three innings, with five walks and a strikeout. Jarred Latta pitched an inning of relief, allowing two hits and three walks with a strikeout. Weir tossed the final inning, allowing one hit and one walk with a strikeout. He aided his own cause on the mound by snaring a Falcon line drive with two on and nobody out. The line drive turned into a double play. Weir struck out West Franklin’s Tate Jackson to end the game.
Ashmore went 2-for-2 with a triple and three runs. Faulhaber and Trent Latta added doubles. Coons singled.
The Indians travel to Burlington Saturday and Sunday for the Burlington Senior SlugFest Tournament.
Iola takes on Emporia at 11 a.m. at the Kelley Park West Field, then Garnett at 1 p.m.
The scene shifts to the Burlington High School field Sunday. Iola takes on host Burlington at 9 a.m.
The third-place and championship games are at 1 and 3 p.m., respectively.
Indians back on winning track
