The Indianola baseball team held off a determined comeback from the Roughriders of Des Moines Roosevelt Monday evening, winning 4-3 to advance to the substate final game heard live on 94.3 KNIA.

The Indians quickly got ahead 4-0 in the first three innings, getting solo home runs from Kael Kolarik and Brady Blake, then a two-run double from Bennett Brueck, with pitcher Casey Stecker cruising through the first four innings.

The Roughriders comeback began in the fifth, scoring two runs before Mark Pepper came on in relief for the Indians to preserve a 4-2 advantage. A solo home run in the seventh followed by a single for Roosevelt put the tying run on base, but Pepper got back-to-back strikeouts to send the Indians to the next round.

Junior third baseman Kael Kolarik said after the game, the Indians were ready to go and they are playing their best baseball of the season right now.

“We’re electric right now. I love what we have going on in the dugout right now, and I love the energy that we are playing with, I’m loving it. Johnston is going to have to be ready to play against us.”

Stecker is credited with the win, while Pepper tied a school record by picking up his seventh save opportunity of the season. The Indians now take on Johnston tomorrow in the substate final round, with a trip to Iowa City and the state tournament on the line.

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