Great season comes to a painful close

Clear Lake’s record breaking baseball season came to a close Wednesday, as Decorah upset the number three ranked Lions, 5-4, in the Class 3A, Sub-State 2 final in Charles City.

“I told them that it might not be today, tomorrow or even next week, but at some point this pain will go away,” said Clear Lake Coach Seth Thompson after the game.   “They did some pretty awesome things. They had successful careers and this game doesn’t change how good of players that they were and what they did for the program.”

The seven seniors on the Lions team were the first class Thompson coached and he said he shared their high expectation for success.

“I’ve seen these kids go from little boys to young men,” he said.  “I’d give anything for these kids to play in the state tournament, which is what they wanted to do.”

Decorah established a 2-0 lead after two innings of Sub-State play.  The Vikings loaded the bases with three straight singles off starter Ozzie Adams before scoring runs on a walk and a fielder’s choice. 

The Lions responded to the challenge and went ahead 4-2  in the top of the fifth.  The first run scored when Ozzie Adams was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.  That was followed by a wild pitch, an RBI single by Tanner Tusha and Gavin Sheakley pushing across a run on a groundout.  The flurry seemed to rattle the Vikings and they made three pitching changes during the inning.

But Decorah reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth with three runs.  A bases loaded walk issued by Adams gave the Vikings their first score of the frame.  A fielder’s choice and single followed.

Thompson credited Decorah’s effort in the contest, noting the team swung the bat effectively.  

“Up and down the lineup I thought they hit it well. They just got a few guys on base and that’s just how baseball works sometimes.”

Decorah threatened to score insurance runs in the sixth off of Adams, who struck out three, walked three and hit two batters, before  - Read More Via e-Edition