The Indianola baseball team rode a hot start to a victory Monday evening in the substate semifinal round, taking down Ankeny 8-5 in a game heard live on 94.3 KNIA.
The Indians scored four runs all with two outs in the top of the first inning with RBI hits from Gavin Legg, Andrew DeWall, and Noah Johnston, only to see the Hawks score three runs in the bottom of the inning to keep the game close, which prompted Indianola bringing in relief pitcher Casey Stecker with two outs in the first to help keep the Indians ahead.

Indianola answered with another three runs off of a bases-clearing double from Casey Stecker, who then held the high-powered Hawks offense to just two more runs the rest of the way, giving way to Kaden Ritchie in the sixth with the bases loaded and one out, and Indianola up 8-5.

Ritchie struck out three in an inning and two-thirds to close out the game, and send Indianola to their second straight substate championship game. Stecker tells KNIA Sports his squad is not making the mistakes the team made earlier in the season by being more comfortable in the field and at the plate.

“I think we are just staying more relaxed. Believing in each other, believing in ourselves, knowing that we’ve put in the work and we are ready to make these routine plays. We work every day in practice, we have great coaches helping get us ready to go. You can come to these games and just see it in the guys, we are relaxed and ready to make those plays.”

Indianola pitchers stranded 11 Ankeny baserunners in the game. The Indians will travel to Urbandale tomorrow, with a trip to the state tournament on the line.