Season ends in West Salem
By Greg Seubert
The Iola Legion baseball team’s first trip to the state Class A tournament turned out to be short and not very sweet.
Iola dropped its first two games at the tournament in West Salem. Marathon eliminated the team with a 6-4 loss July 30, while Iola opened the tournament the previous day with a 9-5 loss to eventual state champion Wisconsin Dells.
Marathon 6, Iola 4
Iola came up with a run in the first inning, two in the third and one in the sixth while outhitting Marathon 9-7.
John Prahl had three hits for Iola, while Cam Gruenwald and Seth Korb added two hits. Gruenwald also drove in a pair of runs, but also took the loss on the mound.
Ryan Gassner went the distance to get the win for Marathon and also had two hits, along with teammate Brooks Repking.
Iola ended its season at 12-9.
Wis. Dells 9, Iola 5
The long ball hurt Iola in a loss to Wisconsin Dells, as Diggy Cimaroli hit a three-run blast in the top of the sixth and Jarret Sveum added a two-run shot in the third.
The home runs helped Wisconsin Dells build a 9-1 lead, but Iola came up with four runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Wisconsin Dells outhit Iola 9-7. Hunter Gruenwald had two hits for Iola, while Jayden Sivertson added a double.
Nate Korb took the loss on the mound.