Lions look to cut down on mistakes heading into postseason play

By Jeff Yoder
Posted 7/6/21

A preview of Saturday’s district quarterfinal did not go Lone Tree’s way on Thursday, as Wapello scored twice in the seventh inning to walk off with a 7-6 win. 

The Lions were …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Lions look to cut down on mistakes heading into postseason play

Posted

A preview of Saturday’s district quarterfinal did not go Lone Tree’s way on Thursday, as Wapello scored twice in the seventh inning to walk off with a 7-6 win. 

The Lions were three outs away from a season sweep of the Indians (10-10), but only managed one out in the final inning, settling for a split. 

“I think the thing for us, unfortunately, is when we’ve played with a lead we get comfortable,” coach Mike Close said. 

“We’re not doing some of the same things that got us to that lead late in the game, so that’s something that we need to work on because I think that we’re a better team than our record shows.

"I think we’ve had moments of really good baseball this year, and just being able to get a full game in has been kind of a challenge at times.”

Adam Knock, Aiden Forbes and Alex Viner each had two hits and Forbes had two RBIs. 

Tyler Bell doubled and had an RBI. Mathew Hemsted had a hit and an RBI as well. 

The two teams met in Lone Tree on June 8, when Cade Shield, Will Kleckner and Gavin Pourroy held the Indians to just three runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks in a 10-3 Lone Tree victory. Kleckner also had three hits and four RBIs in the win. 

The next meeting will take place in Lisbon on Saturday, June 10. The winner will likely face Lisbon (18-13), the top seed in the district. 

The Lions feel good about their chances on Saturday if they can clean up a few of the mistakes that cost them a win on Thursday in Wapello. 

“I think statistically, besides passed balls and walks, we were better,” Close said. “We put a good game plan together. It’s just being able to execute.”

The Lions have scored 42 runs over their last five games, but went 1-4 over that eight-day stretch with close losses to two of the conference leaders, Mediapolis and Pekin.

“When we make mistakes, it’s costing us runs, versus when other teams are making mistakes, you know it’s maybe an extra base here and there, no big damage,” Close said. 

“What we need to try to do is limit the damage and make sure that we’re not making mistakes that hurt us, especially when you get into district play.”

 

Hillcrest 16, Lone Tee 10

The Lions led 9-3 after four innings, but couldn’t hold off the Ravens (10-8) down the stretch. 

Tyler Bell doubled and singled in his first two at bats, driving in three runs during the first two innings. Adam Knock scored the game’s first run and also delivered a two-run single during the Lions’ seven-run second inning. 

Lone Tree had three hits during the second inning, but Alex Viner’s 2-out single in the seventh was the only Lion hit over the final five frames. 

 

Mediapolis 7, Lone Tee 6

The Lions went on the road Friday, and nearly kept Mediapolis (17-8) from clinching an outright conference championship, taking a 6-1 lead with four runs in the fourth. 

But the Bulldogs came back to take the game and the SEISC North championship, tying the game 6-6 in the fifth and walking off with a win in the eighth. 

Lone Tree took advantage of seven walks and four hit batters to score six runs on just four hits. 

Adam Knock had a hit, drew two walks, stole two bases and scored twice for Lone Tree. Aiden Forbes also had a hit and walked twice. Cade Shield, had a hit and was hit twice. He also had an RBI. 

Mathew Hemstead had a walk, a hit, and an RBI. Will Kleckner had two RBIs. 

 

Lone Tree 11, WMU 10

A four-run eighth inning helped the Lions avoid their worst loss of the season on Thursday. Lone Tree led 5-1 after two innings, but the Wolves (2-20) scored twice in the seventh inning to send the game into extra innings, and took a 10-7 lead in the eighth. 

Tyler Bell was 3 for 5 at the plate with two RBIs in the win. Cade Shield drew two walks, doubled and drove in two runs. 

Alex Viner had two hits, including a double, and drove in a run. Gavin Pourroy had a double and an RBI and Cade Patterson had a hit and an RBI. 

 

Pekin 11, Lone Tee 9

Gavin Pourroy was 2 for 2 with two walks and three RBIs in an 11-9 loss to Pekin (12-7) on Monday, June 28. 

Lone Tree took a 7-3 lead with a six-run third inning, but Pekin scored six of its own in the fifth to go ahead 11-7. 

Adam Knock was 3 for 4 at the plate with three stolen bases and an RBI. Mathew Hemsted had two hits and an RBI and Tyler Bell had two hits as well.