CEDAR RAPIDS — Errors proved costly for the Ottumwa American Legion baseball team on Friday, as the Ottumwa squad committed four flubs against Iowa Lakes that led to five unearned runs in a 6-3 loss at the American Legion state baseball tournament in Cedar Rapids.

Ottumwa bounced back to take a 19-11 win over Story County in its second game and stay alive in the tourney, but the early loss sent Ottumwa into the losers’ bracket, which makes a state legion title all the more difficult.

“We should have won that game against Iowa Lakes,” said Ottumwa coach John Hart. “But when you allow five unerned runs, you can’t expect to win. We made a lot of mental mistakes as well as the errors, we just weren’t ready to play that first game.”

The Ottumwa squad will get back into action this morning, when it takes on the loser of Friday’s late contest between Iowa Lakes and tourney host Cedar Rapids. Results of that game weren’t available as the Courier went to press on Friday. Ottumwa needs to win to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament.

Ben Lott, Preston Roberts and Devin Williams each had an RBI for Ottumwa in the contest against Iowa Lakes, but the three runs weren’t enough to make up for the defensive lapses. Starter Curt Mick was saddled with the hard-luck loss on the mound, though he allowed just one earned run through four innings. Four of five runs charged to Mick were unearned.

In the 19-11 win over Story County, Ryan Weston earned the win on the mound in relief of Williams, who started. Ottumwa was forced to use eight pitchers in the two contests, leaving the pitching staff somewhat depleted heading into today. Hart indicated that Justin Garman was likely to start the contest, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

Ryan Weston had two doubles and three RBI against Story County, while Jay Olson knocked in four runs and Lott had a double and three RBI. Williams also doubled for Ottumwa (9-10). Weston Mitchell had two RBI and one run each was knocked in by Roberts, Trevor Fowler, Jeran Courtney, Williams and Justin Birch.

Iowa Lakes 6, Ottumwa 3

I.L. 003 210 000 — 6 9 1

Ott. 000 020 010 — 3 8 4

Ottumwa battery — Curt Mick (L) (4IP, 6H, 5R, 1ER, 4K, 1BB), Justin Garman 1IP, 0H, 1R, 0ER, 2BB, 1K), Jeran Courtney (3 1/3 IP, 3H 0R, 1K, 2BB) Ben Ryder (2/3 IP 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0K, 0BB) Justin Birch catching.

Hits — Jay Olson 1-for-5, Ben Lott 2-for-5, Trevor Fowler 2-for-4, Devin Williams 2-for-3, Preston Roberts 1-for-5.

RBI — Lott, Roberts, Williams. Runs — Lott, Fowler, Williams.

Ottumwa 19, Story County 11

Ott. 045 041 401 — 19 19 2