Lions win post-season opener; fall in second round

(Above) Makella Jacobs pops a bunt during the Hampton-Dumont-CAL game Friday night in the Regional semi-final.  -Repoter photo by Chris Barragy

by Marianne Gasaway

Clear Lake came on strong late in the season and won its opening post-season game before being eliminated Friday night by Hampton-Dumont-CAL (15-8) in the Regional semi-final.

“The girls finished strong with a seven-game win streak and really peaked at the right time for tournaments,” said first-year Coach Shelly Zeitler.  “I am very proud of the team and can’t wait to see how they grow and improve for next season.”

The Lions finished the season with a 12-13 record.

H-D-CAL 12, CL 2

Annika Nelson smashed a home run over the fence for the Lions on the first pitch in the first inning, but Hampton-Dumont-CAL was too much and ended the game in five, 12-2.

Two big innings by the Bulldogs lifted them to the win.  The team scored four runs in the bottom of the first and finished things off with seven runs in the fifth.

In the first inning, a decision to place H-D-C’s top batter, Avery Hanson, on base with an intentional walk backfired when Aubrey Showalter connected to bring her home.  Another hit scored a run and a two-run homer by Addy Showalter had the Bulldogs ahead, 4-1. 

Clear Lake plated their only other run when Chelsey Holck batted in Nelson with a fielder’s choice, but that was all they could muster.  

Reese Brownlee had Clear Lake’s only other hit in the game.

The Bulldogs scored one run in the fourth, but exploded for seven in the fifth to end the game early.  

H-D-C had already scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth when Hanson came to the plate again.  With two on base, the Lions elected to put her aboard with another intentional walk.  Again, the Showalters and others in the Bulldog lineup made Clear Lake pay.  A pair of base hits, followed by a Lion infield error produced the winning runs.

The Bulldogs ended the game with 12 runs on 12 hits and two errors.  They stranded six runners.

Ashlyn Fread started for the Lions, but only went one-third of the innings. Alivia Hauge finished the game.  Fread gave up four runs on three hits and a walk. She had one strikeout.  The Bulldogs got eight runs on nine hits off of Hauge.  She walked three.  

The Lions were charged with four errors in the loss.

The Bulldogs advanced to the Regional finals; they were scheduled to take on second ranked (3A) Mount Vernon on Monday.

CL 6, S-F-T 4

The Lions opened post-season play with an exciting, come-from-behind win over Sumner-Fredricksburg-Tripoli, 6-4. 

The Lions were trailing 4-0 after four innings, but in the  top of the fifth Makella Jacobs unleashed a home run over the left field fence with two on base. Annika Nelson also knocked in a run to tie the score. 

Clear Lake’s winning margin was extended in the sixth when Emeny Brattrud and Emily Theiss reached base with singles and Macey Holck drove a standup triple into the right center gap to score two runs.  

Even though they were down by two runs in the bottom of the seventh, Sumner-Fredricksburg-Tripoli wasn’t ready to give up.  They had runners at first and third with two our when a batter beat-out a throw, but interfered with Chelsey Holck’s throw to second base.  The runner was called out, ending the game with the Lions ahead, 3-2.

Theiss and Grace Meyer each had two hits in the win for Clear Lake.

Ashlyn Fread pitched the first three innings for the Lions.  She gave up four runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout.  Alivia Hauge came in to relieve for the last four innings and didn’t allow the Cougars to score.  She surrendered four hits and had one strikeout.

Chantelle Nuss took the loss for the Cougars.  She gave up six runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out five.

The Cougars ended their season with a 22-15 record.