CL baseball seniors go on annual trip

(Above) Pictured at the Chicago Bulls’ new practice facility are: (front L-R) baseball seniors Ben Mason, Ethan McHenry, Cooper Merrill, Brad Burns and Parker Truesdell. (Back L-R) Head Coach Seth Thompson, with dads Tim Mason, Brian McHenry, Tim Merrill, Frank Burns and Randy Truesdell.-Submitted photo.

Seniors on the Clear Lake High School baseball team had a chance to mix some basketball and other fun with baseball on the annual Senior Trip made May 28-29.

Five Lions and their fathers left in a motorhome Saturday, May 28, and camped outside of Chicago.  Before making their way to a Cubs game, they had the chance to tour the new practice facility of the Chicago Bulls.

Lions Coach Seth Thompson explained that his friend, Brian Hagen, from Lake Mills, is the assistant general manager of the Bulls.   

“He was nice enough to take us on a private tour of the new state-of-the-art practice facility the Bulls recently built.  We got to see their draft room, their weight room, their film room, their kitchen, their locker room, and shoot some baskets on their practice courts,” said Thompson.

That one-of-a-kind experience was followed up with a 7-2 Cubs win over the Philadelphia Phillies and some of Chicago’s famous deep dish pizza before the trip home.

“Our senior trip is a way to celebrate all the great things our seniors have accomplished in getting to that point of their careers,” said Thompson.   “It is a great way for players and their dads to enjoy a weekend together and add the many positive memories we hope both players and parents have when their baseball playing careers as Lions are over.”

This year’s seniors on the team include Cooper Merrill, Ethan McHenry, Brad Burns, Parker Truesdell, and Ben Mason.  Their dads, Tim Merrill, Brian McHenry, Frank Burns, Randy Truesdell and Tim Mason all made the trip too.