Lone Tree was unable to protect an early six-run lead during a 14-11 loss to Danville on Wednesday. 

By the seventh inning, the Lions found themselves trailing by five. Tyler Bell singled and scored on a passed ball as the Lions cut the deficit to three. Lone Tree brought the tying run to the plate with two outs, but a pop up to the shortstop ended the rally. 

“We just struggled a little late, just putting things together and being able to be consistent,” coach Mike Close said. 

The Lions scored nine runs on just two hits over the first four innings, taking advantage of six walks, five hit batters, two dropped third strikes, and two errors. 

Will Kleckner had an RBI single in the first inning and Gavin Pourroy’s single loaded the bases in the fourth. Cade Patterson was hit by pitch to score a run, and Drew Gauley drew a bases-loaded walk to put Lone Tree on top 9-5 after four.

When the Lions went to the bullpen, the Bears took advantage — scoring nine runs on six hits and three hit batters over the next two innings. 

Alex Viner was able to limit the damage, allowing just one hit and one walk over the final 1 and 2-3 innings. 

Lone Tree allowed two unearned runs on five errors. 

“You can't give up 14 runs,” Close said. “We still played well enough to win this game if we just do a few things differently and it just wasn't in the cards tonight, we just didn’t do it.”

Senior reliever Grifen Molle was huge for Danville, entering the game after two runs scored in the fourth. There was still just one out with the bases loaded when Molle got a pair of strikeouts to limit the damage. He allowed just one hit and one walk over three innings while striking out five. 

Patterson was hit by pitch four times in the game, including once in the seventh inning to bring the tying run to the plate for Lone Tree. Drew Gauley drew four walks. Kleckner had two hits and two RBIs and Pourroy had two hits as well. 

Highland 8, Lone Tree 0

Tyler Bell’s single was the only hit for Lone Tree during an 8-0 loss to Highland on Tuesday, June 15. The Huskies scored twice in the third inning to go up 4-0 and added three more runs in the fourth. 

Aiden Forbes reached base on an error and drew a walk. Will Klecker walked once and was hit by a pitch. Cade Shield pitched an inning and a third. He walked one and recorded all four outs by strikeout. Aiden Forbes also pitched an inning and a third. He walked one and struck out two.