Top ranked Lions roar through competition

The top ranked Clear Lake baseball team (2A) notched five wins last week over schools ranging in size from Class 1A to 4A.  Coach Seth Thompson said he suspects his team could lose their week one number one ranking, due to a pair of losses, but count on the Lions to keep challenging for the top spot.  They are currently 2-0 in the North Central Conference and 7-2 overall.

CL 5, IFA 1

The Lions started the week against Iowa Falls-Alden, from the NCC, on Monday, June 1.  They recorded their first conference win, 5-1.

“I was a little disappointed we didn’t have better at-bats on a consistent basis, but we played good defense and got good pitching from Brandon (Tofte) and Cooper (Merrill) and good defense and pitching will usually put you in the win column,” said Coach Seth Thompson.

Tofte earned the win, giving up just two hits in six innings on the mound.  The senior struck out six and walked two.  Merrill came in to throw the final inning and struck out one.

The Lion defense was led by Brock Adams.

“Opposing pitchers have a had a really tough time getting Brock out all year, and he fueled our offense tonight with three hits, including two triples,” said the coach.

Rowdy Yates had a single and a double.  Parker Truesell picked up a pair of RBIs with one hit.  Mitch Keeran also had an RBI on a double.  Devin Uhlenhopp also contributed a hit.

CL 10, North Union 0 (5)

The Lion machine kept rolling the next night.  The team steamrolled North Union, 10-0, in a non-conference game.

Ethan McHenry made the most of his first start.  The junior got the win in five innings.

“It was a huge shot in the arm for this team to see Ethan go out there and pitch so well in his first outing as a Lion.  He only had one walk and held a team that has put a lot of runs on the board this year to two hits and no runs.”

The coach noted it was great to see his team produce more runs and apply more and more pressure.  The Lions were scoreless in the first, but put up one run in the second, two in the third, three in the fourth and four in the fifth to win by the 10-run rule.  The game ended when Brock Adams hit a three-run homerun.  Adams had two hits and four RBIs in the game.  Ben Mason also had two hits and an RBI.

Cooper Merrill, Mitch Keeran, Rowdy Yates and Jacob Hogan also had a hit producing a run.

McHenry and Parker Truesdell also had singles.

CL 13, C-G-D 2

It was another lopsided win on Wednesday, June 3, against Clarion-Goldfield-Dows.  The Lions scored six runs in the top of the seventh to win their second NCC game, 13-2.

“Any win we can get on the road in conference is huge, and our offense was consistently put pressure on them the entire game,” said Coach Thompson.

Mitch Keeran had a huge night with three hits, including two homeruns, and Cooper Merrill added two triples.

Brock Adams had a good outing, giving up just two hits in five innings pitched.  He struck out nine and walked three.  Ryan Schmalen came in to throw the final two innings and did a nice

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job of finding the resolve to get the last out after a walking a few batters, said Thompson.  Schmalz struck out three and walked five.

The Lions scored their 13 runs on 17 hits.  In addition to Keeran and Merrill’s three hits apiece, Adams, Ethan McHenry, Parker Truesdell and Devin Uhlenhopp each had two.  McHenry and Truesdell each blasted a double.  Ben Mason, Matt Stephany and Schmalen each had one hit.

CL 11, Central Springs 0 (6)

Thursday, June 4, the Lions were at Central Springs for a non-conference tilt.  Parker Truesdell threw a no-hitter and the Lions won, 11-0.

After walking the first batter of the game, Truesdell went the rest of the way with no more walks and nine strikeouts.

“We have come close to a few no hitters since I have been coaching at Clear Lake, but this is the first time I have seen one here,” said Coach Thompson.  “No hitters are very rare in baseball and every pitcher’s goal when they step on the mound, so that is a huge accomplishment for Parker and it was great to see yet another pitcher step up there when given the chance and shut down the other team offensively.”

The Lion offense supported Truesdell with two runs in the first and five more in the second.  Two runs in the third and two in the sixth sealed the deal.

The 12-hit Lion barrage was led by Brock Adams’ three hits.  Cooper Merrill, Mitch Keeran and Matt Stephany each had two hits, with one of Keeran’s being a double.  Truesdell, Tucker Tusha and Devin Uhlenhopp each had one hit.

Merrill’s hit scored three runs while Keeran and McHenry each picked up two RBIs.

CL 5, Ames 3

Fort Dodge 3, CL 1

The Lions split with a pair of 4A teams they faced at the River City Classic in Mason City Saturday, June 6.

The first game ended with the Lions on the right side of a 5-3 score.

“We ended up seeing their top pitcher, a guy who in Class 4A was 6-0 last year and is going to pitch Division one baseball next year in college.  It was awesome to see our kids step up to that challenge and come out right away and put four hits, two doubles, and three runs on the board in the first against such a good pitcher,” said Coach Thompson.

Brandon Tofte was on the mound for the Lions and got the win.  He was touched for seven hits, walked four and struck out one.  Cooper Merrill came in to pitch the final inning and gave up one hit.

  “Brandon pitched great against a good offensive 4A team and Cooper did nice job of closing things out for a big win for our team,” said Thompson.

Merrill and Parker Truesdell had two hits apiece.  Brock Adams, Mitch Keeran, Rowdy Yates and Tofte had one apiece.  Merrill, Adams, Keeran and Yates had doubles.

Against the Dodgers, the Lions were in a hole early.  Fort Dodge scored three in the first inning and then held on for a 3-1 victory.

“We got to see another top-level 4A pitcher and although we only ended up with one run I thought we actually had good approaches at the plate and ended up with eight hits, which was more hits that they ended up with,” said Coach Thompson.  “Unfortunately, they got theirs in a bunch in the first inning and ended up with the three runs that turned out to be all they needed.”

Cooper Merrill and Brock Adams had two hits apiece.  Parker Truesdell, Ethan McHenry, Jacob Hogan and Mitch Keeran each had one.  There were no extra base hits for the Lions.  Keeran got the only RBI.

Ben Mason was on the bump for the Lions.  The junior gave up six hits and struck out two.

“Ben pitched a fantastic game after that first inning against a really good team that is a perennial 4A state tournament team,” said the coach.

“Our kids understand that to be the best you have to play against the best, and if that results in a few more losses throughout the season than they have had in the past then that is something we can live with,” said Thompson.

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