Lions prove to be as hot as the weather

   The Clear Lake Lions were almost as hot as the weather!
    The Lions pounded out 14 hits and scored 14 runs to knock out No. 3 ranked (3A) Charles City in the District final played Monday in Hampton.  The final score was 14-6.  The victory puts the Lions (28-9) just one win away from a state berth.  They will play Boone (19-10) tonight (Wednesday, July 20) in a 7 p.m. game at Hampton.  Boone was a 9-0 winner over Nevada Monday night.

    “It was awesome to see such great crowd support for our boys out there tonight, who had to battle their tails off against both a really good Charles City team and extremely hot and humid conditions.  Both teams left everything out there on the field tonight and I couldn’t be more proud of these kids for how hard they battled and fought throughout the entire game to earn a district championship,” said Coach Seth Thompson.
    Coach Thompson called the Lions’ effort a battle of wills. 
    “And for our kids to win that battle against the number three team in the state, that returned almost their entire team from a runner-up state championship season, is remarkable.”
    The Lions rolled to the decisive win by keeping pressure on the Comets (26-9).  They opened the game with two runs in the first and added four in the third.
    Charles City seemed to get back on their feet in the bottom of the third, scoring four runs to make it 6-4.  Each team added two runs in the fourth.  
    Ozzie Adams came in to relieve starter Elliott Neuberger after two and one-third innings pitched and received solid back-up in the field to shut the door on the Comets.  Charles City left the bases loaded in the fourth with the score 8-6.  Adams struck out nine in picking up the win. 
    The Lions added two runs in the sixth and finished with a flurry of four runs in the final frame.
    “Our pitchers worked out of some tough spots to get us the outs we needed,” said Thompson.   Charles City had just six hits in the game and only one of those came off Adams.
    The Lion’s offensive attack was led by Michael Keeran (4/4), Neuberger (3/5) and Jake Kockler (3/5).  Tanner Truesdell was just one for two at the plate, but managed to score every time he was at bat.  He crossed the plate an astounding five times for the Lions.
    The Comets tried six different pitchers in an attempt to quiet the Lions’ bats.  None were effective.  In addition to their 14 hits, six of which went for extra bases, eight batters walked and four were hit by pitches.

CL 10, H-D 0
    The Lions continued their domination over North Central Conference foe Hampton-Dumont in their first game of the post season, played Friday, July 15.  Clear Lake, ranked ninth in Class 3A, topped the Bulldogs in five innings, 10-0.
    Senior Colin Lobdell led the Lions on the mound and at the plate.  He was a perfect three-for-three at the plate and came in to effectively relieve starting pitcher Elliott Neuberger.  Lobdell struck out two and gave up one hit in two innings pitched.  Neuberger got the win, also giving up only one hit to the Bulldogs.
    The game started off close, with the Lions holding just a 2-0 lead after two innings.  But the contest was broke open in the fourth when the Lions brought 12 players to the plate and scored seven runs. 
    In addition to Lobdell’s multiple hits, Clear Lake’s  Tanner (Truesdell) and Tanner (Tusha) combo in the middle of the order was four for four on the night, with each reaching base twice on hits.  Michael Keeran was credited with two RBIs.
    “Any win in district play is huge and I was pleased of how these kids performed tonight in all facets of the game,” said Coach Seth Thompson.
    The win advanced the Lions (26-9) to face No. 3 Charles City in the District final Monday.

CL 9, Crestwood 2
    The Lions ended the season with a strong non-conference victory.  They topped - Read More Via e-Edition