By JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
FORT SCOTT — Maybe the fifth time will be the charm. In four previous tries, Larned’s high school and American Legion baseball team has reached the semifinals twice. The Indiand will seek their first Class AA state title since 2000.
Larned (14-11) opens the Class AA American Legion State Baseball Tournament against Marysville (29-6) at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Fort Scott’s Dave Regan Stadium.
The Indians will pitch ace pitcher Isiah Perez, who throws an effective slider as his best pitch. Marysville will throw either Tommy Brinegar (4-1) or Jacob Latta (3-1). Larned beat Marysville 6-2 last year in Class AA, but were eliminated by Iola when Neosho County pitcher Trent Latta beat the Indians.
“We’re confident with what Izzy is capable of doing,” said Larned coach Chad Erway. “Marsyville will throw a good pitcher too. If things work out right, Izzy could throw again on the back side. We’d love to continue to give our pitchers run support.
“i’m pretty confident because we’ve got experience at the state tournament the past three years,” Erway said. “Our expectation is we’re going to qualify for the state tournament. We’re well prepared how to travel.”
The Indians have beaten Class AAA state qualifier Great Bend and competed against several all-star traveling teams. We’ve competed against Class AAA and showcase teams and played well against them,” he said. “Our pitching rotation is set up. We’ve been careful with our arms and our pitch count.”
Larned will throw Evan Skelton and Landon Erway in state tournament games.
“We’ve beaten some quality teams. When we’ve faltered in big games, we’ve learned you’ve got to be smart on the bases,” he said. “You can’t give up outs on the bases or runs because of errors.”
Last year’s Class AA runner-up Iola joins Larned, Doniphan County, Marysville and Colby as returning teams. Fort Scott was the 2014 state champion.
In Zone play, Larned pitchers Evan Skelton and Landon Erway threw shutouts and Perez yielded one run. The Indians erupted for 11 first-inning runs against Russell and used fast starts to roar past Beloit and Concordia.
Larned (14-11) earned its third consecutive Class AA state baseball trip with a dominating 11-0 victory over Russell. Larned captured Class AA American Legion state baseball titles in 1990 and 2000.
“There’s going to be good, well-coached baseball teams like Iola and Doniphan County,” Erway said.
The Iola Indians (18-13) play the Goodland Outlaws at 1 p.m. and Troy-Doniphan County (29-2) meets Russell (14-8) at 6 p.m. Fort Scott (17-17-2) will play the Colby Sluggers (14-15) in the 8:30 p.m. game.
AA STATE TOURNAMENT
At Fort Scott (Dave Regan Stadium)
Wednesday, July 27
Game 1, 1 p.m.—Iola Indians 18-13 vs. Goodland Outlaws
Game 2, 3:30 p.m.—Marysville 29-6 vs. Larned Indians 14-11
Game 3, 6 p.m.—Troy-Doniphan County 29-2 vs. Russell 14-8
Game 4, 8:30 p.m.—Fort Scott Indians 17-17-2 vs. Colby Sluggers 14-15
Thursday, July 28
Game 5, 10 a.m.—Losers Games, 1, 2
Game 6, 12:30 p.m.—Losers Games 3, 4
Game 7, 6 p.m.—Winners Games 1, 2
Game 8, 8:30 p.m.—Winners Games 3, 4
Friday, July 29
Game 9, 10 a.m.—Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7
Game 10, 12:30 p.m.—Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8
Game 11, 6 p.m.—Winners Game 7, 8
Game 12, 8:30 p.m.—Winners Game 9, 10
Saturday, July 30
Game 13, 10 a.m.—Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 11
Game 14, 12:30 p.m.—Winners Game 11, 13 (First championship game)
Sunday, July 31
Game 15, 10 a.m.—Winner Game 14 vs. Loser Game 14 (if needed)
CLASS AA QUALIFIERS
Iola Indians Post 15 (18-13)
Zone 3-4—Iola 5, Fort Scott 1; Garnett 5, Iola 3; Iola 12, Fort Scott 11; Iola 4, Garnett 0; Iola 3, Garnett 1 (1st)
Goodland Outlaws Post 117
Zone 7-8—Norton 13, Goodland 7; Goodland 22, Ulysses 3; Goodland 8, Osborne 7; Goodland 10, Norton 7 (2nd)
Marysville Post 163 (29-6)
Zone 1-2—Marysville 14, Linn 1; Marysville 9, Seneca 6; Doniphan County 15, Marysville 3 (1st); Marysville 4, Seneca 3 (2nd)
Larned Indians Post 106 (14-11)
Zone 5-6—Larned 8, Beloit 1; Larned 8, Concordia 0; Larned 11, Russell 0 (1st)
Troy-Doniphan County Post—55 (29-2)
Zone 1-2—Donpihan County 11, Silver Lake 1; Doniphan County 15, Marysvile 3 (1st)
Russell Broncos Post 99 (14-8)
Zone 5-6—Russell 16, Sylvan Grove 6; Russell 5, Ellis 3; Larned 11, Russell 0 (1st); Russell 5, Beloit 4 (2nd)
Fort Scott Indians Post 25 (17-17-2)
Zone 3-4—Iola 5, Fort Scott 1; Iola 12, Fort Scott 11
Colby Sluggers Post 363 (14-15)
Road to State—Won Zone 7-8 Tournament Colby 13, Ulysses 3; Colby 12, Norton 0 (1st)
