The Clear Lake Lion softball team went 2-1 last week, with one postponement (Central Springs – June 28) that saw the Lions improve to 7-3. The Lions are currently third in the North Central Conference with a conference record of 4-1 after falling to Webster City on June 5.
St. Edmond leads the NCC with an undefeated 8-0 record overall and 4-0 conference record. Webster City, in second, boasts a 5-0 record in the conference and overall record of 7-2 for the best start two decades for the Lions.
Webster City 5
Clear Lake 2
The Clear Lake Lion girls softball team faced a stout 6-1 Webster City Lynx team Wednesday, June 5 in a show down that was all Lynx until the sixth inning when the Lion girls attempted a comeback that fell short.
The Lions gave up three runs in the first inning and a fourth run in the second. The fifth run for Webster City was in the bottom of the fourth and the Lions would hold the Lynx for the remainder of the game, scoring two in the top of the sixth with runs from Taylor Schwenn and Avery Puttman, who was running for Taylor Bedford.
The Lions mustered seven hits on 30 at-bats, all singles, with one RBI from freshman Alaina Hartl. Collecting the hits for the Lions were Jezzie Thompson, Schwenn, Bedford, Hartl, Makyla Johnson and two from Alivia Paine.
In the circle, Thompson pitched six innings, throwing 121 pitches. She allowed five runs off one hit with eight walks, while striking out nine batters in the loss.
In the home dugout, the Lynx enjoyed five runs off two hits in 20 at-bats with two RBI. The Lynx fielders had five errors in their victory with 21 putouts, four assists and 30 total chances.
Delainey Bargfrede was the senior pitcher in the circle for the Lynx, allowing two runs off six hits and striking out 14 batters.
“Unfortunately we didn’t start this game ready to play and gave up three runs in the first inning, largely due to some mental mistakes on defense,” said head Lion coach Seth Thompson. “When the other team only has one hit and scores five runs that is a pretty good clue that it wasn’t our best night defensively. Webster City has a really good pitcher and I thought we did a nice job of adjusting throughout our at-bats.”
Clear Lake 16
G-H-V 6
The Lions bounced back after a tough conference loss to the Lynx, defeating the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Cardinals (1-8) in six innings, 16-6.
Starting off with two runs in the bottom of the first, the Lions had their best offensive performance in the second inning sending seven runs across home plate.
The Cardinals had answered the two runs the Lions put up in the first with one in the top of the second and then answered the seven runs with two in the top of the third to make the game 9-3.
The Lions would see three more runs in the bottom of the fourth, while the Cardinals negated those runs with three of their own in the top of the fifth before the Lions shut the game down with four runs in the bottom of the sixth, improving to 6-3 on the season.
The Lions collected 16 runs off 15 hits in 34 at bats with three doubles and a Taylor Schwenn home run. Schwenn led the team in RBI with four, while also collecting two hits on the night with two runs attached. Alivia Paine recorded three runs off two hits with two RBI, including a double in her four appearances at bat.
Taylor Bedford recorded two hits for the Lions and an RBI, Alaina Hartl collected one run off two hits and two RBI, Cheyanne Schroeder had one run off one hit, Camryn Allsbrook two runs off two hits and one RBI, Madi Ott had two runs off two hits, a double and two RBI and Makyla Johnson recorded two runs off one hit and had one RBI.
Thompson had pitching duties once again for the Lions pitching six innings allowing six runs off nine hits, walking five and recording nine strike outs.
“Although this was not our best game defensively and Jezzie gave up more walks than we would like, our offense did a nice job of constantly applying pressure to eventually get the win via run rule,” said Coach Thompson. “We had 14 hits as a team and six girls with multiple hits, including Madi Ott and Alaina Hartl who have been big parts to our offense the early part of the season.”
Clear Lake 12
H-D-CAL 1
The Clear Lake Lions downed another North Central Conference opponent last Friday, June 7, defeating the Hampton-Dumont-CAL Bulldogs 12-1 through five innings.
Getting on the board early has become a trend for the Lion girls and Friday was no different. Scoring two in the first and adding one in the second put the Lions up 3-0 early. It was the fourth inning that pulled the Lions away from the Bulldogs, though, scoring five runs to go up 8-0. The Bulldogs found some offense to stay alive but only one run scored. The Lions did what they needed to in the fourth to put the game away and head home early after five innings scoring four runs to win 12-1 and improve to 7-3 on the season.
The win saw the Lions record 12 runs off 12 hits in 29 at-bats that included another Taylor Schwenn home run as she put down two runs off two hits and three RBI. Jezzie Thompson recorded a double and two singles in her four appearances at the plate that translated to two runs off three hits.
Alivia Paine was hit by a pitch and scored two runs for the Lions in three appearances at the plate but had no hits. Taylor Bedford saw two runs off one hit and an RBI and was also struck by a pitch.
Alaina Hartl saw one run off two hits, a double and a triple that put two runs in. Cheyanne Schroeder recorded two hits and an RBI in her four appearances at-bat and Camryn Allsbrook had two run off two hits which were a single and a double.
Makyla Johnson recorded an RBI on a sacrifice fly to help the team and Avery Puttmann scored a run as a base-runner.
Thompson stepped into the circle for the Lions and threw 61 pitches that ended up as one run off three hits and four strike outs.
“This was a great way to end the week,” said coach Thompson. “I thought our offense did a nice job of picking up steam as the game went on and put nine runs on the board in the last two innings to end the week with three games won via the 10/12 run-rule.”
Clear Lake 9
Algona 6
In another NCC showdown Monday, June 10, the Lions faced a 4-5 Bulldog team that held a 20-8 all-time record against the Lions.
That all-time record changed with a Clear Lake victory that also improved the Lions overall record to 8-3 on the season.
The Lions started off with a run in the bottom of the first that came off an Alaina Paine sacrifice fly that drove in Jezzie Thompson after Taylor Bedford drew a walk that loaded the bases.
The Lions jumped ahead 3-1 in the bottom of the second after with another Thompson run after a double an RBI from her bat in center field.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the top of the third after two walks and a successful bunt with no outs but the Lions rallied and allowed no damage after a heads-up play by Alaina Hartl at third, fielding a grounder and tossing it to Schwenn at home for the first out.
Thompson collected a strike out for out two. Makyla Johnson fielded a grounder at second and was able to throw from her knees to Madi Ott at first for out three.
The Bulldogs finally struck and got on the board in the top of the fourth with one run.
The Lions had a big inning in the fourth, scoring six runs to lead Algona 9-1.
The Bulldogs continued to rally, putting five more runs on the board, going seven innings, allowing one run in the seventh before taking the game by a 9-6 score.
“It helps we have a lot of energy in the dugout and going out with confidence,” said Lion sophomore Taylor Bedford. “We have really good chemistry and we bond really well together. We have gotten beat by all of these teams before and we are looking for revenge.”
Clear Lake coach Seth Thompson told the girls in the post-game huddle that it was revenge week, but was very proud of the way the girls battled through a little adversity through the end.
“When we were playing Algona last year it was similar games,” said Thompson. “It’s not surprising that they scored. What I told the girls after the game, you don’t always win the game in seven innings, to me the second or third inning when they had bases loaded and nobody out then you get out of that inning that’s where you win the game. Our defense wasn’t perfect but made some nice plays, our pitcher bent but didn’t break and our offense got the job done.”
Having the best start of the season in two decades has been fun for the girls and for coach Thompson in his second season with the team.
“I think you have girls that love playing softball and love each other,” said coach Thompson. “That is a good combination and they come to the field every day feeling like they are playing amongst family and love the game and are looking to learn, I think that’s what makes this a special group.”
The Lions have a tough have a tough schedule remaining this week with Tuesday Mason City came to town, followed by Wednesday at St. Edmond in Fort Dodge and Charles City on Thursday.
