Indians win 8-5 behind Weir’s bat, Barclay’s arm

POMONA — WIth the winning run up to bat, Iola’s AA American Legion Post 15 was able to stave off a comeback in the late innings from Wellsville during the quarterfinals of the Zone 6 Tournament Wednesday night. The Indians won 8-5 over Wellsville, thanks in part to Derrick Weir’s bat and Aaron Barclay’s arm.
“Derrick came out big for us tonight,” coach Roland Weir said. “He hit the ball really well and I’m proud of him.”
The first inning didn’t start off well for Iola. After getting the first two batters to retire, Barclay gave up a walk and single. Wellsville’s Luke Meyer came to the plate and took advantage of the situation with an RBI-single, giving Wellsville the 1-0 lead. Barclay got out of the inning with a strikeout of the next batter.
The game also began with a bit of controversy for Iola. After Hunter Murrow produced a leadoff walk and stole second, Faulhaber struck out. The controversy arose on Trent Latta’s at bat, on two instances.
He stroked a grounder that looked like a fair ball down the first base line, with the right fielder fielding it in fair territory. The home plate umpire called it foul. What could have been extra bases turned into a strike. Iola’s fans, players and coaches were upset by the call. Even Wellsville’s first baseman told first base coach Jay Carpenter the ball looked fair.
After all that, Latta still had to hit. He took a pitch for a single up the middle, looking like it would score Murrow. The center fielder made a perfect throw to home plate where the catcher made a tag on Murrow. The play was extremely close, and the umpire called him out. Again, Iola’s fans didn’t agree with the call. Latta was able to get to second base during the throw.

DERRICK WEIR ensured the turmoil would soon become a distant memory. Weir hit a two-run homer to give Iola a lead it wouldn’t give up. In fact, Weir did even more damage later on.
The second inning ended 1-2-3 for each team. Barclay found himself in a jam in the top of the third. After getting the first two outs, he hit a batter and gave up a single, putting runners on at the corners with the tying run 90 feet from home. He got the next batter to pop out on a flare to second base.
Hunter Murrow started off the third inning with a triple to right field on a ball that got under the outfielders glove.
Faulhaber redeemed himself from the strikeout his first at bat with an RBI-single.
After Latta flew out, Weir drew a walk. Vanatta added another run hitting a ball to deep center field, which the center fielder dropped. After Pearish struck out, Caleb D’Armond hit a single to load the bases. Jacob Carpenter followed with a single that scored two. The Indians ended the inning with a 6-1 lead.
Barclay had a 1-2-3 fourth inning; Wellsville didn’t. Hunter Murrow had a leadoff single, the third time he reached base to lead off an inning. Faulhaber laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, moving Murrow to second base. Latta then flew out for the second out of the inning. Weir stepped up to the plate again. This time, he took a curve ball over the right field wall for his second home run of the game to give the Indians an 8-1 lead.
“I’m proud of Aaron Barclay,” Coach Weir said. “He gave us five strong innings, he gave us everything he had and he only made one bad pitch in the game, that three-run home run. Other than that he was lights out.” 

WELLSVILLE answered big time in the third inning. With two outs and runners on first and second, Wellsville’s Mitch Huffman launched a three-run homer to left field. Barclay got the next batter out on a grounder to short stop.
Picking things up in the seventh inning, the Indians were in a bind. After a quick 1-2-3  sixth inning of relief for Faulhaber, he wasn’t able to get the final out in the seventh inning. He got the first two batters out, then Wellsville rallied with a walk, infield single, walk and bases loaded RBI-walk from Lance Meyer. Now 8-5, with the bases still loaded, Wellsville had the winning run up to bat. Latta was brought in to get the final out. He got the strikeout and Iola got the team’s 30th win of the season.
“We had a little lapse late in the game, walked a few kids and gave a few runs, but overall the kids played well,” Coach Weir said. “One error during the game, I can live with that. One game down, two to go.”
The Indians (30-3) will face Ottawa in the semifinals of the tournament tonight at 8 o’clock in Pomona.
“Ottawa wants us badly,” coach Weir said. “We had their number three out of four times this year. It will be a good game, and whoever wins that game will be in the driver’s seat because they’ll be in the championship game Friday.”