Indians 16s hold on to beat Pittsburg, 5-3

The Kansas Indians 16-and-under baseball team remained undefeated on the season with a 5-3 victory over Pittsburg at Dave Regan Stadium Tuesday night. Earlier, Pittsburg had beaten the Indians’ 18-and-under team, 4-1.

The Pittsburg team didn’t start out with the same lineup in the nightcap but the visiting team’s coaches started sending up senior players to pinch-hit in the top of the sixth inning trailing 5-1. They got 2 runs on 3 hits but Brady Masters came on for the Indians in the seventh and came through even after allowing a double to one of the senior batters with 2 outs, getting a groundout to end the game for the 16s.

The Indians, who went 3-0 in winning a tournament at Carl Junction, Mo., on the final weekend of May, scored 4 runs in the bottom of the first inning on just 2 hits. Masters drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a wild pitch, then to third on a Drake LaRoche single and scored on another wild pitch to open the scoring.

Brody Bowles, Gage Wilson and Braden Shelton then drew consecutive walks, the last one forcing LaRoche home with the second run of the inning. Carter Goldston followed with a single to right field to score Bowles. Jacob DeLaTorre’s fielder’s choice brought in Wilson with the fourth run.

Wilson also pitched the first three innings, allowing a single run in the second inning. He gave up 5 hits and a walk while striking out 2. Goldston pitched two innings, allowing 2 hits and a walk with one strikeout.

DeLaTorre led off the bottom of the fourth and drew a walk. He stole second and scored with the aid of two wild pitches to make it 5-1.

Pittsburg saw three of its pinch hitters single in a four-at-bat span in the top of the sixth. But Braden Shelton managed to get out of the situation by inducing a groundout to second.

Austin, who was the starting pitcher against the 18s (1-4) in the opening game, doubled with 2 out in the seventh and stole third base but was unable to score.

The Indians had 4 hits, one each by LaRoche, Bowles, Shelton and Goldston.

Pittsburg scored single runs in each of the first three innings of the opener versus the Indian 18s. Fort Scott’s only run scored in the second when Kurt Golubsky drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a passed ball, to third on a ground out and home on another passed ball.

Austin allowed only 2 hits, one each by Matt Campbell and Alec Michaud.

The Indians 16s play in a tournament at Garnett this weekend. The 18-and-under team plays a doubleheader at Chanute Thursday and then will be at home to play in the second Fort Scott Community College Showcase this weekend.

Game One

Kansas Indians 18U...... 010 000 0 — 1 2 3

WP — Austin. LP — Page.

HR — none.

Game Two

Kansas Indians 16U...... 400 100 x — 5 4 1

WP — Wilson. LP — Sutton. Sv. — Masters.

HR — none.