Lions begin quest for the title

[caption id="attachment_11787" align="alignleft" width="270"] It was a time for celebration as the Clear Lake baseball team looks to their fans following their 2A quarterfinal victory over Treynor Monday night. -Reporter photos by Chris Barragy[/caption]

Lions start State with a shut-out

The start of the State baseball tournament was worth the wait Monday.  Thunderstorms delayed the 2A quarterfinals, pushing Clear Lake’s 5 p.m. start to 8:45, but the long day ended in a 5-0 shutout over Treynor (27-8).

Brock Adams threw a five-hitter and struck out six to pick up the win for the Lions, seeded third in the tourney.  Fellow senior Matt Stephany was also sharp, starting off the third inning with a line drive hit and scoring on an RBI triple by Adams in the third inning.  Stephany picked up an RBI of his own in the fourth with a base hit, then made a diving catch in the outfield in the sixth inning to keep Treynor off the base paths.

Clear Lake Coach Seth Thompson said before the game that he thought defense might be the difference between the two teams Thursday night.  The Lions have the best fielding percentage in Class 2A, but Treynor entered the State Tournament with a good deal of confidence, winning 21 of their last 22 games.

“It would be ideal for us to hop out early and put them on their heels early.  We have experience here,” said Thompson.  The Clear Lake team has five players on its roster from its 2013 Class 3A state championship team.

Both teams had runners reach base in the first inning, but each pitcher was able to catch the runner off-balance and pick them off for outs.  Left-hander Ben Chapin did it for a second time in the bottom of the second inning, seemingly rattling the Lions.

Stephany led off the third inning with a line-drive single to right field, but Chapin quickly recovered with a strikeout and got Ben Mason to fly out.  The tables quickly turned on the Treynor starter when Adams ripped an RBI triple to right field, scoring Stephany and putting the Lions ahead, 1-0.  Mitchell Keeran followed with an RBI hit to centerfield, scoring Adams.

Adams struck out three in the top of the fourth to keep momentum in Clear Lake’s favor.

With two outs in the fourth, Tanner Truesdell hit a ground ball to short, but a throwing error allowed the senior to go to second base.  Stephany stepped to the plate and delivered a base hit which had Truesdell digging for home.  The throw to the plate actually beat the runner, but Truesdell successfully slid under the tag to score, 3-0.  Treynor continued to unravel, as Cooper Merrill walked and Mason smashed a double to left, scoring Stephany.

After a pitching switch, a wild pitch scored Merrill from third and Adams reached base on a walk.  The inning ended with the Lions picking up three runs on two hits and an error.

Solid defensive plays in the top of the sixth by Stephany and Mason shut down any hopes of a late Treynor rally and the Lions were on their way to the State semi-finals.  That game will be played at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 30, at Principal Park in Des Moines.

“It’s hard to describe how amazing our fans were last night at such a late hour,” said Coach Thompson, via social media after the game.  “Thanks so much to all that were there and to the many more that I know were cheering at home.  I’ve never seen so many thrilling successful retreats to first base on pick-offs in my life.  Would love to see you all back Thursday at 7:30!”

At presstime it was unknown if the Lions will face Davis County, Bloomfield or Roland-Story.  The game between the second and seventh seeded teams, which was to follow the Clear Lake vs. Treynor game, was postponed until Tuesday morning.

On the other side of the Class 2A bracket, top-seed Cascade, Western Dubuque defeated Mediapolis and Columbus Catholic, Waterloo, seeded third, topped Hinton.

The Class 2A State Championship game is slated for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1.

[caption id="attachment_11786" align="alignleft" width="270"] The players weren’t the only members of the team excited by the win over St. Edmond. Here, coaches Seth Thompson and Michael Keeran celebrate with a hug. -Reporter photos by Chris Barragy[/caption]

Hogan repeats grand slam to

Jacob Hogan said he could feel his heart pounding.  He kept telling himself to keep calm.  For the second time in as many games he was in the batter’s box with two outs and his teams’ season on the line.

“I could hear the crowd and knew they realized we were in the same situation as the last game,” said the CLHS senior.

Saturday night against Forest City, Hogan smacked a walk-off grand slam which sent the Lions to the Class 2A Sub-State game Tuesday at Algona.  This time it was St. Ed’s with a one-run lead in the seventh inning.  And just like last time Hogan walked to the plate and delivered.  With bases loaded, two out and a 1-0 count, Hogan sent the ball flying over the left-centerfield fence just like before.  His heroics sent the Lions to the State Baseball Tournament in much the same way Clear Lake’s 2013 team did it— by never giving up.

The St. Ed’s centerfielder threw down his glove as he watched Keeran’s hit clear the fence, giving the Lions a 5-2 victory.

The game was close throughout, as the Lions had two runners aboard in the second inning, but failed to score.

St. Ed’s was the first to get on the scoreboard by manufacturing a run in the top of the fourth.    With runners on first and second a sacrifice bunt moved them ahead to second and third.  A squeeze play scored the runner from third.  Pitcher Brock Adams struck out the next batter to leave a runner stranded at third.

The Lions answered in the bottom of the fifth inning when Cooper Merrill, who singled in his first two at-bats, hit a ground ball up the middle.  He stole second and scored when Ben Mason hit an RBI single to left.  Mason advanced to second on the unsuccessful throw home to try to catch Merrill, but he was left standing on base.

St. Ed’s reclaimed the lead in the top of the six after Adams walked the first two batters.  Another sacrifice bunt moved the runners along, but Adams was able to throw out the batter to get one out.  A line drive base hit to centerfield scored one run, but the second runner was thrown out at the plate.  An Adams strikeout ended the inning with the Lions down, 2-1.

Adams handled the Gaels easily in the top of the seventh, recording his seventh and eighth strikeouts on the night in the process.

With the season on the line in the bottom of the seventh Coach Thompson elected to use senior Matt Stephany as a pinch hitter to lead off the inning.  Stephany delivered with a ground ball base hit to keep the Lions’ hopes alive.  Merrill put the ball in play, but the lead runner was out on his fielder’s choice. A deep fly ball retired Mason and the situation was beginning to look bleak.

Merrill was able to move into scoring position as St. Ed’s pitcher Jason Setterdahl began to struggle against Adams.  Setterdahl walked Adams, then loaded the bases when he hit Mitch Keeran on an 0-3 count.

Jacob Hogan said he could hear the crowd rumbling when he stepped into the batter’s box.  It was the same exact position he had been in a few night’s before— bases loaded, two outs and the game on the line.  Hogan watched the first pitch miss the strike zone.  Then, just as he had done before, he connected with the ball and sent it over the left-centerfield fence— a walk-off grand slam.  The Lions won, 5-2.

“I didn’t think I would ever see that again.  Baseball is a crazy game,” said Coach Thompson, still flying high after the game.  “It’s a hard feeling to describe.”  The coach was sure to note it took the whole team to pull off the win. “Matt Stephany stepped in and got a key hit and everybody did their job.”

Thompson believes the two close wins will do nothing but help his team at the State Tournament.

“I like to think there’s no better team prepared for tough situations,” he said.

send Lions to State