Entering this game both the Lions and the Danville Bears held one win this year, making it a guarantee one of these teams would leave this contest having doubled their win total of the season. Despite Lone Tree dropping its season high in runs it was the Bears, who also scored their season high in runs, who came out on top, securing a 16-15 victory on June 21. 

With this loss the Lions’ losing streak reaches 12 and their record now sits at 1-15. Danville puts a stop to a five-game losing streak and improves its record to 2-15. 

These two opponents are familiar with each other, playing against one another every year since 2011. Before this Danville win the Lions held the series edge, 7-6, but now it is tied up. The Bears made this possible by emerging victorious in their last four matchups against Lone Tree. 

Starting off with a flourish of runs the Lions would take an early lead by bringing in six runs in the top of the first. Responding, the Bears would score three runs in the bottom of the first and then score an additional five runs in the next inning to take a two-run lead. 

Lone Tree would retake the lead by scoring seven runs in the third frame, but the Bears would not go quietly. Danville would score in the bottom of the third and then add an additional run in the fourth to knot up the game at 13 runs apiece. 

The fifth frame would prove to be the decisive inning in this game. Daville would out score the Lions, 3-2, in this inning to take the lead. No other runs would be scored past this point, leading to the Bears to walk away with a single run win.

As a team Lone Tree would finish with 17 hits. Leading the team in hits with four was sophomore Maddox Jondle. Jondle also led the team in stolen bases with three. 

Five Lone Tree players would post multiple RBI’s. Two Lions would record three RBIs to lead the team, senior Drew Gauley and freshman Emmett Burke.

Pitching duties for Lone Tree were split between Junior Ethan Bockleman and eighth grader Owen Eden. Bockelman would record one strikeout, giving up nine hits, and Eden struck out two batters, giving up three hits.    

Wapello 5, Lone Tree 3

After two home games the Lions would hit the road to compete against a team they beat earlier this season, the Wapello Indians. The Lions, winning the earlier contest at home, would fall this time around with Wapello getting some revenge with a 5-3 win on June 20. 

Wapello jumped out to an early lead by scoring three runs in the first, but Lone Tree would eventually respond with three runs of its own in the third frame to tie the game. 

The Indians recaptured the lead with two runs scored in the fifth. With neither team being able to score in the last two innings those two runs in the fight prove to be the difference maker in this matchup.

Leading Lone Tree in hits would be senior Mathew Hemsted. Hemsted recorded four hits, going a perfect four for four at bat. He would also post one RBI and one scored run. 

Sophomore Jack Patterson pitched the whole game for the Lions. Patterson would finish with seven strikeouts, giving up 11 hits. 

Up next for Lone Tree (1-17) will be going on the road for a Class 1A first round postseason game against Hillcrest (18-4), on July 1. This will be the third time these two teams face off against each other this year, with the Ravens winning the first two matchups.