Fourth ranked Lions move record to 20-4

    Coach Seth Thompson is encouraging the Clear Lake community to get out to the ball field this week and help the Lions finish the home stretch of the regular season strong.  After playing seven games last week, the fourth ranked (3A) Lions are 20-4 and have two suspended games (Clarion and Eagle Grove) that will both be made up Friday.

    Tonight (Wednesday, June 27) the Lions will be looking to avenge one of their losses when they host Iowa Falls-Alden.  Thursday, Central Springs will come to town and Friday the Lions will play the remainder of the suspended Clarion game at 12:30 p.m. before jumping on a bus to Eagle Grove.
    “It would be great to see Clear Lake come out this week to support a team that has been playing some pretty good ball this season,” said Coach Thompson.
   
St. Ed’s 3, CL 2
    The Lions were on the road to play St. Ed’s Monday, June 18. 
    “I thought we played well enough to win against a good team on the road, but unfortunately just came up a hit or two short,” said Coach Thompson.   “It is always tough to get wins in Fort Dodge, and they are ranked number two in their class (2A) for a reason.  They play good defense and it was their defense that won them this game.  They made some nice plays to take hits away from us and turned some double plays that really snuffed out some rallies we had going.”
    The Gaels pushed a run across the plate in the first and second inning, while keeping the Lions at bay until the fourth.    Another run in the fifth gave St. Ed’s a 3-1 lead. The Lions threatened in the seventh, but the rally was cut short and they went down, 3-2.
    Starter Gavin Sheakley took the loss on the mound for the Lions.  He gave up four hits in two innings pitched. Ozzie Adams took over in the third, and struck out four and allowed five hits.
    Michael Keeran and Jerry Kockler accounted for half of Clear Lake’s eight hits in the game.  Kockler’s hits included a run scoring double.  Tanner Tusha knocked in Clear Lake’s other run. 

CL 7, St. Ansgar 6
    Coach Thompson said disappointment from the loss the night before may have carried into the first couple innings of a non-conference game with St. Ansgar Tuesday, June 19. 
    The Lions found themselves down 6-0 in the second inning of the first of two five-inning games with the Saints. 
    “It is tough to spot a team six runs in a five-inning game and come back, but our kids found a way to do it,” said Coach Thompson.
    The Lions got the win on a game-winning walk by Michael Keeran which forced in the winning run. 
    Jerry Kockler was the starting pitcher for the Lions.  The usually steady ace had an off-day, walking five and giving up six runs on four hits.  He struck out two in one and one-third innings.  Freshman Brock Adams came in and shut the Saints down, helping the Lions to get back into the game.  Ozzie Adams came in to get the final two outs in the fifth and steal the statistical win from his brother.
    “I thought Brock was the guy that pitched us this win and maybe Ozzie can find a way to make it up to him at home,” joked Thompson.
    The senior Adams also helped the team with a pair of hits in the game.  He recorded one RBI and scored one run for the Lions.  Brock Adams had one hit and scored a run.  Jerry Kockler was two-for-two at the plate and scored one run.  Tanner Truesdell smacked a double which brought in two runs.  Michael Keeran led the team with three RBIs.

CL 1, C-G 0 (suspended)
    The Lions were leading Clarion-Goldfield 1-0 in the middle of third inning when play was halted due to inclement weather Wednesday.  The game will be resumed Friday afternoon at 12:30 p.m.
 
CL 4, St. Ansgar 2
    Clear Lake’s second five-inning game with the Saints was just as exciting as the first.  It ended in dramatic fashion, with Tanner Truesdell hitting a mammoth three-run walk-off home run to help give the Lions the win in their final at-bat.
    Luke Schiller provided the sacrifice to score Clear Lake’s first run in the bottom of the fourth inning and pull the Lions to within one run, 2-1. 
    Clear Lake’s five hits in the game were provided by Michael Keeran, Ozzie Adams, Tanner Tusha, Jerry Kockler and Truesdell. 
    Keeran pitched the much-deserved win.  He allowed five hits and struck out three.

CL 14, Lake Mills 2
    The Lions might have had their best offensive night as a team all year, collecting 17 hits, seven for extra bases, against Lake Mills Thursday, June 21.  The offensive onslaught resulted in a 14-2 non-conference win.
    “We were getting hits from our whole lineup and even a lot of our outs were hard hit balls right at people,” said Coach Thompson.
    Tanner Truesdell was outstanding on the mound and at the plate for the Lions.  The senior surrendered just two hits and two runs in five innings pitched.  He struck out three.  Offensively, Truesdell used two doubles and a home run to drive