FORT SCOTT — Daylon Splane and the rest of the Indians did everything they could for six innings to try and win their first-round playoff match-up with Goodland on Wednesday in Fort Scott, but ended up falling just short.
Despite playing without regulars Derek Bycroft, Kane Rogers, Ethan Tavarez and Blake Ashmore, Iola carried a 2-1 lead into the seventh inning after Splane’s double scored Justice Pugh from first base with two outs in the sixth inning.
Splane went into the seventh and decisive inning having already thrown six innings of one-run baseball. He continued a hot streak that began last week in the zone tournament when he threw 14 innings and only allowed one run.
“Daylon went out there and threw 102 pitches with 69 of them being strikes and nine strikeouts and one walk,” Iola coach Rick Vink said. “Ninety-nine percent of the time that is going to be enough to win the game.”
With the 7-8-9 batters in the Outlaw order due up to begin the inning, the game was set up for a quick final frame.
The first hitter of the inning made sure that a quick inning wasn’t in the cards. Gabriel Biermann hit a hard ground ball up the middle and the ball snuck under the glove of shortstop Isaac Vink — an everyday center fielder for the Indians — and Biermann reached first on the error.
Splane picked up his teammate by striking out the next Outlaw batter to bring nine-hitter Andy Windell to the plate.
Windell bunted to try and get the tying run into scoring position with two outs.
The second error of the inning resulted in Windell reaching second and Biermann advancing to third when catcher Nic Zimmerman’s throw to first sailed over the head of first baseman Lance Daniels and into the bullpen.
“I think (Nic and Isaac) are the type of kids you don’t really have to say anything to,” Vink said regarding the seventh inning errors. “The great thing is we aren’t waiting a week to play our next game… No one will feel as bad as those guys feel.”
Again Splane and the Indians picked up their teammate. Splane induced a pop-out in foul territory.
Daniels charged in and caught the ball while Biermann began to stray down the third base line. Daniels spun and threw towards third to try and pick off the runner.
The ball reached third baseman Ethan Sigg on a bounce and Biermann slid under Sigg’s attempt to tag him and reached base just before Sigg’s glove slapped down on him.
Despite not getting the out at third, Iola still had two outs and was clinging to a one-run lead.
Splane quickly jumped ahead of the No. 2 hitter for Goodland Evan Peter with a 1-2 count.
After working the count to 2-2, Peter got just enough of Splane’s 102nd pitch of the game to put it into left field for a walkoff single as both runs scored to win the game for Goodland.
