Kansas Indians season begins in college showcase

Kansas Indians second baseman Ty Gorman gets an out at second and looks to relay the ball to first to complete a double play in the top of the seventh inning against the Kansas City Prodigy at Dave Regan Stadium Thursday evening. The Indians, made up the this past season's high school varsity players, lost to the Prodigy, 8-1, and to the Oklahoma Naturals, 10-2, later in the night. (Scott Nuzum/Tribune)

The Kansas Indians, a team made up mostly of players who were on the Fort Scott High School varsity this past season, opened the summer schedule with two games for the 18-and-under team in a showcase hosted by Fort Scott Community College Thursday evening.

The showcase includes 26 teams from four states using three fields -- Dave Regan Stadium and Lions Field in Fort Scott and Jaycee Ball Park in Pittsburg.

The Indians lost two games they played at Dave Regan Stadium on Thursday, dropping their season opener to the Kansas City Prodigy, 8-1, and the second game to the Oklahoma Naturals, 10-2.

Games continue today at all three locations beginning at 9 a.m. Games will take place only in Fort Scott on Saturday with Jaycee Ball Park being held in reserve for possible make-up games. The showcase concludes Sunday with three games each at Dave Regan Stadium and in Pittsburg and four at Lions Field.

The Indians' only run in the opener came in the bottom of the third inning when Chase Brown's sacrifice fly scored Marcus Jamison. Brown played this past season at Independence Community College.

The Indians were held to just one hit, a Kieran Houlihan second-inning single.

The Prodigy had 8 hits off two Indian pitchers and won despite committing 5 errors.

The Indians had 5 hits in the second game but fell after Oklahoma scored 8 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to kick in the run-rule for the showcase, which is 8-after-5.

The Indians held a 2-0 lead after their turn in the top of the second inning. Carter Young was hit by a pitch while leading it off. He stole second, then Jeron Poyner drew a walk. Jarret Lyon drove in Young on a single to right. Taylor Engstrom loaded the bases with a single. Ty Gorman sacrificed Poyner home. Lyon was caught attemptong to steal home and a line-drive out ended the inning.

The Naturals scored twice in the bottom of the second to tie the score.

Engstrom had 2 hits for the Indians while Brown, Lyon and Marcus Jamison each had one.

The Indians do not play again until Sunday. They fill face Sandlot Mottern at 11:15 a.m. and Cavaliers I at 1:30, both games at Dave Regan Stadium.

A total of 37 games remain to be played in the showcase. Six will be played today at Dave Regan Stadium and Lions Field with five on tap in Pittsburg. Games are scheduled every 2 hours and 15 minutes with the last one set to begin at 6 p.m. in Pittsburg and 8:15 at each of the fields in Fort Scott as long as things stay on schedule.

The showcase has drawn teams from Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Game One

KS Indians......... 001 000 0 -- 1 1 3

WP -- n/a. LP -- Page.

HR -- None Barkley (1, 1st inn., none on, none out).

Game Two

OK Naturals..... 020 008 x -- 10 6 1

Two out when game ended.

WP -- n/a. LP -- Houlihan.

HR -- None.