Lions set records on way to State title

Clear Lake scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning and coasted to a 20-1 victory over second seeded Davis County (26-8) in a Class 2A semifinal game Thursday night at the Iowa State Baseball Tournament played at Principal Park. The 20 runs scored and 19-run victory margin are all-time summer state tournament records, according to the Iowa High School Athletic Association.

“It is safe to say that we didn’t expect this outcome, playing a team in Davis County that was a really good team and seeded higher than us in the bracket, but our guys did a great job all game of applying constant pressure to their defense and their pitchers,” said Clear Lake Coach Seth Thompson.

Ben Mason started on the mound for the Lions and earned the win.   The junior only allowed one run on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts over four innings.

Saban Goodson started the game for Davis County, but only stayed in for one-third of an inning.  He allowed seven runs on two hits and four walks. Four other pitchers took the mound for the Mustangs, but none could stop the Lions.

Clear Lake’s amazing first inning started with lead-off batter Cooper Merrill reaching base on a walk and advancing on a wild pitch.  Mason was retired on a routine fly ball, but when Brock Adams walked on four pitches and Mitch Keeran was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Goodson and the Mustangs were shaken.  Jacob Hogan walked, picking up an RBI the easy way, scoring Merrill. A double to left field by Rowdy Yates scored two runs. Ethan McHenry blooped a single to score Hogan.  When Matt Stephany walked, putting runners on the corners, a pitching change was in order.

Tanner Truesdell put the ball in play and made it to first on a fielder’s choice, scoring another run.  Merrill got his second walk of the inning and scored on a two RBI single off the bat of McHenry.  A wild pitch, another walk to Adams, and two RBI double by Keeran gave the Lions a total of 10 runs on four hits and four errors in the inning.

The Lions added two more runs in the second after Yates reached on an error, McHenry was hit by a pitch and Stephany crushed a double to left-centerfield which rolled to the wall and scored another unearned run.  Stephany scored on a fielder’s choice by Merrill.

Five more Lion runs crossed home plate in the third, this time assisted by Mustang errors with two outs. Hogan reached base on an error and advanced when Keeran tried to stretch his run and was thrown out at third.  Yates walked and McHenry and Stephany followed with base hits.  A passed ball, line drive hit by Truesdell, infield hit by Merrill and single by Mason put the score at 17-0 after three.

Davis County’s lone run came in the bottom of the third when Saban Goodson reached on an error, which allowed Bryce Vinyard to score.

With the game safely in hand and the 15-run mercy rule about to end the contest, Coach Thompson was able to clear his bench in the fourth inning.  The Lions scored four more runs in the frame using all pinch hitters.  David Vohs, Tucker Tusha, Brandon Tofte, Ryan Schmalen, Brad Burns, Dustin Huey, Zach Lester, and Jacob Peterson all got into the game.

“It was very exciting to get a chance to see so many kids come off the bench in the last inning to get an at-bat, which is what every kid dreams about growing up to get to hit in the state tournament at Principal Park,” said Thompson.

Mason, Keeran, McHenry and Stephany all led Clear Lake offensively with two hits apiece. The Lions finished with 13 hits.

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“When our hitters are locked in and swinging it well like they are right now, they are really tough to get out and our opposing pitchers found that out tonight,” said Coach Thompson.  “For our offense to not just win against a higher-seeded team, but set the state record for both total runs and biggest margin of victory in a state tournament game was great to see and hopefully a huge catalyst for what we anticipate to be a tough Championship game vs. Columbus Catholic.”

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