Clear Lake Lions top Hinton in Class 2A State Semifinal, 10-7

(Above) Cooper Merrill slides safely into home.  Merrill connected on one triple during the game.

Clear Lake scored nine runs in the first three innings, then held on to defeat Hinton, 10-7 in the Class 2A State semifinal played Thursday, July 28, in Des Moines.

“It was really nice to see our offense come out early and put a ton of pressure on their defense.  It shows a lot about these kids that they were able to respond with a seven-run third inning after giving up a run in the top of the inning,” said Coach Seth Thompson. “Hinton is a good team and fought their way back into the game, but in the end our offense was just too much for them to handle and this team earned the opportunity to play for a title for their third time in the last four years.”

The Lions got all the runs they would need in the second inning.  Lead-off batter Tanner Huey started things off with a base hit to right field and stole second.  Brad Burns joined him on the base paths on a two-out walk and both scored when Cooper Merrill smashed a triple to make the score 2-0.

Ten batters stepped to the plate in the third for the Lions.  Ben Mason got the team going with a base hit to left field, followed by a walk issued to Ethan McHenry and a base hit by Zach Lester to load the bases.  Huey slapped a ground ball, which the third baseman bobbled, scoring one run and leaving all runners safe. With bases loaded and one out, designated hitter Jacob Peterson kept the hit parade going with a liner to centerfield.  Brad Burns was next with a hit to right field which scored another run and ousted Hinton’s starting pitcher, Terrill Henrich.   Merrill stepped to the plate next and delivered a bases-clearing three RBI double to put the score at 8-1.  After stealing third on the first pitch to Parker Truesdell, Merrill scored on a ground ball by Truesdell.

Hinton whittled away at the lead with three runs in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh.

Coach Thompson lifted starter Ethan McHenry in the sixth and brought in his ace, Ben Mason, to get the final out of the inning and finish off the Blackhawks in the seventh.

McHenry gave up six runs, five of them earned, on nine hits.  He struck out six and walked three while picking up the win.

Mason allowed one run on two hits.  He struck out two.

Merrill finished with five RBIs in the game, going 2/4 at the plate.  Mason was 3/3 with a double and an RBI.

The win put the Lions in the 2A championship game for the second straight year.  Their opponent, Kuemper of Carroll, defeated Pleasantville 7-1 in the other 2A semifinal.