The Indianola baseball team stranded eight runners on base Monday evening in a 3-1 loss in the substate semifinal round to Waukee NW as heard live on 94.3 KNIA, ending their season. The Indians had strong pitching from starter Andrew DeWall from the beginning, however the Wolves used a walk and a passed ball to push a lone run across in the third, then hit a two-run home run in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead. Indianola threatened in the third and fourth innings with multiple runners on with less than two outs but were unable to score.

Bennett Brueck came on in relief and was near unhittable to keep the Indians in the game, going into the seventh inning. Daniel Kuebler and Gage Sinn each singled to start the inning, then after a flyout Luke Rockhold pushed a run across on an error to put the tying run on base, but the Indians were unable to get any more.

Head coach Jon Fitzpatrick tells KNIA Sports this year’s senior class left a massive mark on the program, not just with their play on the field but with the legacy of hard work and commitment they brought to the underclassmen.

“You don’t win 25 plus games a year in our conference and the competition that we play. That goes with practice, that goes with just talking and really building up the underclassmen. We lift every single day, so it’s the effort you put into that. It’s just talking to people, talking through situations,and just the way you play. The hustle you give on every single play, and they’ve done exactly that.”

The Indians graduate a senior class of six.

The Indianola softball team hosts Winterset tonight in the regional final. The game will be broadcast live on 94.3 KNIA, with Andrew Swadner and Hanna Graham on the play-by-play. Pregame coverage begins at 6:45, first pitch is at 7pm.