After scoring three early runs, Lisbon was able to hold Lone Tree’s high-powered offense in check on Tuesday, moving on to the district final with a 7-1 victory. 

The Lions averaged over eight runs per game during the regular season, but Lisbon sophomore Hunter Clark allowed just three hits  and no walks over seven innings in the district semifinal. 

“We had some opportunities that we just didn't take advantage of,” Lone Tree coach Mike Close said. “It felt like our bats were kind of a little behind all night. We didn't make very good adjustments and didn't really work well with our counts offensively.”

Lisbon took a 3-0 lead on Luke Czarnecki’s home run with just one out in the top of the first inning, but Lone Tree starter Adam Knock responded well to the adversity. Knock allowed just one unearned run on three hits over the next four innings to keep the Lions within striking distance. 

A lead off walk came around to score after a passed ball, an error and a groundout to put Lisbon up 4-0 in the third inning. Lone Tree stranded a pair of runners in the fourth after Lison led off the inning with back to back singles. 

“We talked about controlling and limiting the damage,and I thought our outfielders did a pretty good job with that,” Close said. “Playing a good team like that, you just want to be able to show up and give yourself a chance to win at the end. And we were pretty close until we got to the last couple of innings and we just couldn't muster another stop. That was the difference in the ballgame.”

Cade Shield stole third base and scored on an error to cut the lead to 4-1 in the sixth inning. Shield singled to lead off the inning and Tyler Bell was hit by a pitch.

Lone Tree needed one more baserunner to bring the tying run to the plate, but Clark struck out the next three batters. 

A pair of walks and an error allowed Lisbon to pull away in the bottom half of the sixth.

After giving up four hits in the first inning, Knock allowed just four more the rest of the way. 

“Adam pitched a great game, and we made some plays behind him defensively,” Close said.  “There were just a few miscues on our side that added up into kind of a big lead for them.” 

Knock had a third-inning double for Lone Tree and Alex Viner had a hit in the fourth. Bell and Aiden Forbes each reached base on errors. 

Lone Tree finishes the season with a record of 10-16. The Lions have a chance to make a big jump next season with improved pitching and defense. The Lions, who allowed over nine runs per game, return all four pitchers who threw over 20 innings in 2021. 

The Lions graduate Aiden Forbes and Alex Viner. Viner finished the season batting .295 with 24 stolen bases. 

“We had two great, hard-working seniors on this team,” Close said. “But as far as the group coming back, we've got pretty much everybody, and we’re looking forward to having a couple new additions as well next year. Excited to take some time off, but then get right back to work and try to improve and make what we did this year even better.”