American Legion baseball season is underway as a familiar face returns to Iola to lead the Junior Indians this season.
Ryker Curry, a former Iola All-Pioneer League pitcher and senior on Pittsburg State’s baseball squad, will take on coaching duties for the Junior Iola Indians and hopes to return the upstart program to the 17U state tournament.
“We have some good ball players, and I’m excited,” Curry said. “I’m looking forward to it. We can do some good things. We’re a little young, but I’m looking forward to developing them.”
Curry inherits a Junior Indians team in a bit of a flux period. Many traditional 17U players will also see significant time as starters for the 19U Indians. Curry said the Junior Indians will be younger than most, but also significantly more talented. And thanks to their youth, Curry also has the flexibility to play a 15U game one night and a 17U the next, remaining competitive in each competition.
“It’s interesting for sure. I like to have a core group of guys with others bouncing in and out,” Curry said. “We have a lot of Moran guys, and a couple of Colony guys I’m looking forward to seeing play. Of course, there’s Braylon Keithly, who was a freshman who had a good year for Iola. And I have a few incoming freshmen I’m excited about too.”
Among the players returning to the Indians this season are Thomas Allee, Kooper Welch and Lane Lord, who were a key part of Marmaton Valley’s historic regional title and their first bid to the state tournament in school history. Crest starters Will Disbrow and Andrew Donovan will also join the fold, along with a trio of potential Iola stars in Kaiden Jones, Corbin Coffield and Cade Curry.
“This week, we finally got together as a team and got some things done,” Curry said. “They’ve been playing, which is the best thing about all this. We’ll be good.”
For Curry, coaching American Legion has two benefits. He’s spent three years now at an NCAA DII program, giving him a wealth of priceless experience and advice to offer the youngsters. He’s also found plenty of success off the diamond; the exercise science major is a three-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll with a near-perfect 3.95 GPA.
“This is the first time I’ve been a real coach,” Curry said. “Before, I would just show up and help out where I could. I’m excited to take what I’ve learned at Pitt State and try to pass that along to these guys. It helps me as a player, too. You look at what coaches do and why we do certain things at practice.”
The Junior Indians traveled to Mound City for their first game Tuesday, but results were not available at press time.
