Lions rack up post-season baseball honors

Seven earn spots on NCC conference teams

Seven members of Clear Lake’s record-setting baseball team have received All-North Central Conference honors.  The 33-7 Lions set a school record for most wins in a season.

The Lions and Bishop Garrigan tied for the most players receiving all-conference honors.  Garrigan captured the NCC title and earned a State berth in Class 1A.

Four members of the Clear Lake team were First Team All-NCC selections.  Seniors Ozzie Adams and Michael Keeran were each unanimous choices for the First Team.  Adams was named as a pitcher, while Keeran was chosen as an outfielder.  They are joined by outfielders Jake Kockler and Tanner Truesdell.

Adams posted a record of 9-2 on the mound for the Lions this season.  He pitched 63 2/3 innings, giving up just 16 earned runs, striking out 77 and walking 14.  His earned run average was 1.76.  Opponents batted just .207 against Adams.  The senior was also impressive at the plate, batting .492 this season.  He finished with 63 hits, including five home runs, two triples and 24 doubles.  He had 40 RBI, lifting his slugging percentage to .828.  When not pitching for the Lions Adams played shortstop and posted a fielding percentage of .916.

Keeran boasted a .450 batting average and slugging percentage of .580.  He had 59 hits during the season, including three home runs, a triple and six doubles. Keeran was also a valuable pitcher for the Lions.  He finished the season with a 4-0 record.  In 27 innings pitched he had an ERA of 1.81.

Jake Kockler pounded out 61 hits during the season on his way to a .396 batting average.  One home run, two triples and 10 doubles helped to put his slugging percentage at .506.  He had 35 RBIs.  In the outfield for the Lions Kockler had a fielding percentage of 93 percentage.

Truesdell had a team-high 53 RBIs for the Lions this season.  His hits included four home runs, three triples and 14 doubles, good for a .437 batting average.  His slugging percentage was .722.  In the Lion outfield, Truesdell had a fielding percentage of 97 percent.

Senior catcher Tanner Tusha and junior infielder Gavin Sheakley were named to the All-NCC Second Team.  Tusha had a .344 batting average for the Lions, while Sheakley, who played first base, batted .408.

Jerry Kockler,  a junior infielder, was chosen for the All-NCC Third Team. Kockler, who played first base for the Lions, batted .301.

Three Lions named to INA All-State teams

Three Clear Lake Lions have been named to the Iowa Newspaper Association’s 2012 All-State Baseball Teams.  The INA selects first, second and third teams, along with captains for classes 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A.

Leading the way for the Lions was senior infielder Ozzie - Read More Via e-Edition