Softball team captures conference title
July 06, 2012 · Nick Joos
A full team effort is what it will take for the fifth-ranked Lisbon Lions softball team to compete in the Class 1A, Region 5 tournament, which starts tonight (Thursday, July 5) at 7 p.m. against the winner of the Iowa Mennonite/Lone Tree matchup (results from that game were unavailable at press time).
According to coach Bob Bunting, his athletes are up to the challenge.
"Anyone can win on a given night," he said. "We need everyone to step up in the tournament."
Bunting looks to the Lions' bats as a catalyst, putting hope in their offensive prowess to advance.
"One of the goals was to win the conference, which we did," Bunting said. "We ended up sharing with Northeast. [The girls] have been pretty focused all year long. The biggest part of our game is hitting. Hopefully our hitting will carry us. If we play our game and play our defense, we'll have a good shot."
The Lions tied with Northeast Goose Lake for the Big East Conference title. A doubleheader on June 28 was part of the reason for co-champions atop the conference.
Game one of the doubleheader went to Northeast 15-6, as the Lions struggled to slow down the Rebels' offense.
Game two, however, went to Lisbon, thanks to a strong pitching performance from McKenna Kilburg.
Following the Northeast doubleheader, the team traveled to Iowa City for a tournament, where the Lions won three of the four games, with victories over Charles City, Davenport North and West Liberty.
With the first playoff game tonight, Bunting attributes his team's age as a huge factor in their success thus far.
"The freshmen and sophomore are now sophomores and juniors," he said. "Maturity is a big part of our team."
If the Lions win round one of Class 1A, Region 4, they will play Friday at Lisbon against Bellevue Marquette, Calamus-Wheatland or Preston.
The regional championship, for a chance to go to state, is Monday at Iowa City West. Teams on the other side of the bracket are Keota, WACO, Sigourney, Holy Trinity, New London, Winfield-Mount Union and Harmony.
Lisbon vs. Northeast Goose Lake
Game one
NE 15 - LIS 6
RECAP: Game one of the doubleheader did not go as planned for the Lions, as Northeast Goose Lake pulled out with an early six-run lead and never looked back. Lisbon's McKenna Kilburg was 2-for-4 from the plate, and Emma Hendricks was also 2-for-4 with two doubles.
LIS 002 040 0 6
NE 600 117 0 15
Pitchers: L - Ali Givens (LIS), W - Maddison Daniels (NE)
Extra base hits
2B-L: Zeva Light 1, Emma Hendricks 2; NE: Emily Franks 2, Brittany Stoll 1, Addie Oberman 1
Lisbon vs. Northeast
Game two
LIS 4 - NE 3
RECAP: Game two was a pitchers' duel, with Lisbon's McKenna Kilburg grinding out a victory over Maddison Daniels. Kilburg pitched the full seven innings while striking out four and walking none.
LIS 000 013 0 4
NE 200 000 1 3
Pitchers: W - McKenna Kilburg (LIS), L - Maddison Daniels (NE)
Extra base hits
2B-NE: Emily Franks
Iowa City West Tournament
Lisbon vs. Muscatine
MUS 11 - LIS 0
RECAP: Lisbon managed just one hit off Muscatine sophomore Anna Manjoine in the Iowa City Tournament. Catcher Kelsi Griffiths slapped a single in the fifth inning to break up the no hitter.
MUS 524 0 11 10 3
LIS 000 0 0 1 0
Pitchers: W - Anna Manjoine (MUS), L - Ali Givens, Kaite Montgomery (LIS)
Extra base hits
2B-M: Kaylea Rusch 1, Emily Clemens 1 3B-M: Megan Butler 1
Iowa City West Tournament
Lisbon vs. Charles City
LIS 4 - CC 0
RECAP: Lisbon's Kaite Montgomery outlasted Charles City's Kate Kloberdanz, allowing just four hits, striking out three and walking one.
LIS 002 020 0 4 6 1
NE 000 000 0 0 4 1
Pitchers: W - Katie Montgomery (LIS), L - Kate Kloberdanz (CC)
Lisbon vs. West Liberty
LIS 14 - WL 2
RECAP: After being held to one hit in one game of the Iowa City Tournament, and six hits in another, the Lions exploded for 12 hits and 14 runs against West Liberty. Pitcher Ali Givens and Cassie Smith led the charge with three and two hits, respectively. Paige Felderman plated three times for Lisbon
WL 100 1 2 3 2
LIS 128 3 14 12 0
Pitchers: L -Kyleigh Becker (WL), W - Ali Givens (LIS)
Extra base hits
2B-L: Zeva Light 1
Lisbon vs. Davenport North
LIS 2 - DN 1
RECAP: Lisbon outlasted Davenport North in a 2-1 game in which no runs were earned. Sophomores Emma Hendricks and Kelsi Griffiths both slapped two hits for the Lions in support of pitcher McKenna Kilburg, who walked just one in the victory.
DN 000 010 0 1 6 3
LIS 110 000 x 2 6 3
Pitchers: L - Jenna Ringsdorf (DN), McKenna Kilburg (LIS)
Extra base hits
2B-DN: Hope Scheffert 1
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