One game shy of a State Tournament berth

Clear Lake’s softball season ended one game shy of a State Tournament berth.  On Monday night,  Estherville-Lincoln Central, with a little help from the weather, posted a 6-2 victory in a weather-shortened game played in Estherville.

The Lions scored in the first and second innings, but were trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the third when the first of several lightning delays were called.  State rules call for play to be suspended for 30-minutes each time lightning is spotted.

After a scoreless fourth inning, the top of the fifth was likely a do-or-die inning for the Lions.  Despite getting a runner on base, they were retired without scoring.  ELC added another run in the bottom of the fifth before another lightning delay.  Since ELC, the home team on the scoreboard, was leading at the time the game was considered official since it had gone five innings.

Play was never allowed to resume and at 9:20 p.m. the game was called as rain impacted the playing field.

Clear Lake finished the season with an 11-18 record, an improvement of 10 wins over the previous year.  The Lions earned their first wins in tournament play since 2010.

More about this game and photos will appear in next week’s Reporter.