The Indianola baseball team defeated Knoxville in both teams’ season opening bouts 11-1 as heard live on KNIA Monday evening, as unforced errors doomed the Panthers.
Both teams bats were quiet early, with neither team getting a hit through the first two innings, however the Indians broke through with a four-run third despite earning no hits in the inning, taking advantage of defensive miscues and walks given up by Knoxville. Indianola added another run in the fourth, and two more in the fifth to take a 7-0 lead, before exploding in the seventh for another four runs that included a three-run bomb from Brady Blake over the center field fence. Knoxville added a run in the seventh on an RBI from Luke Spaur.
Indians head coach Jon Fitzpatrick tells KNIA Sports the Indians played their game tonight, making plays on the basepaths, having patient at-bats, and forcing the other team to make mistakes.
“We knew it was going to be a good battle, so when we were able to get guys on we were hoping to be able to manufacture something. Just getting guys to be able to run a little bit, put pressure on them in different ways, then the third time through the order we got comfortable.”
Knoxville head coach Turner DeVore tells KNIA Sports the Panthers have to be more consistent and make the plays they know how to make in order to win.
“I’ve been trying to tell them you have to stay focused, and you have to go out. In 3A baseball there isn’t a game on the schedule you go look at and say that’s a win. It’s not going to happen. It’s not going to happen in the area we play in. You can’t do some of those things, and I don’t think we will make some of those mistakes. I told them I don’t think the confidence was there that I’ve seen the last couple of weeks, especially getting down early, but we have to play better than that.”
Daniel Kuebler came on in relief for the Indians to pitch 4 ⅔ innings to pick up the win, while Nico Lacona took the loss for the Panthers. Indianola has a quick turnaround playing a doubleheader against Des Moines Lincoln at home tonight, while Knoxville hosts Nevada on Thursday.