Lisbon lights up opposing pitchers

Lisbon has made a habit of battering opposing pitchers this season.

The Lions' statistics prove it.

Class 1A third-ranked Lisbon has one of the best records in the entire state, taking a 16-0 record into Friday's competition at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo. The Lions play Tipton at 1:30 p.m. with a second game against either West Marshall or Mount Pleasant.

Lisbon is among 1A's best in most offensive categories.

A factor in the offensive outburst has been more unity.

'We are finally coming together,” senior all-stater Connor Woodward said. 'We've been playing together for a long time, but now we are focusing more on playing as a team, where before we were playing more as individuals. Now, it's about being a team and getting as far as we want to go as a team.”

Lisbon averages 10.75 runs per game, reaching double digits in 10 games and scoring less than six in only four. They have outscored opponents by 126 runs, winning by almost an eight-run average.

The Lions rank second in 1A with a .395 team batting average and 11.5 hits per game. Their run production is third in 1A and the team's .478 on-base percentage is four in the class.

Woodward leads the way with a .550 batting average, including 33 hits and .603 on-base percentage. Colton Krob is hitting .491 and Ryan Light has a .472 batting average.

The pitching staff has held foes under three runs a game, so far, owning a 1.72 earned-run average. Woodward is 5-0 with a 0.72 ERA. Krob and Ryan Kortemeyer are both 3-0 with ERAs less than 2.50. Kortemeyer has struck out 25 in 23 innings pitched.

'We've been practicing a lot better and a little more efficiently,” Woodward said. 'We're all just working a little harder.”

The senior-led roster had its postseason ended sooner than expected last year. The Lions will try to rectify that finish, owning state title aspirations. They play to meet those expectations.

'We're playing well,” Woodward said. 'We are planning on staying undefeated the rest of the year.”

LIZARRAGA ROLLS IN RETURN

Sammy Lizarraga was an all-state pitcher last season. He was expected to serve as one of Cedar Rapids Kennedy's top arms again, but injuries have hampered him this season.

The Cougars senior rebounded strongly against previously ranked Iowa City West last Friday. In his second start of the season and first appearance on the mound in two weeks, Lizarraga tossed a complete-game three-hit shutout against the Trojans, striking out eight.

'He had a great outing,” Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer said. 'We need to follow it with another to solidify where we were hoping he would be.”

Hoyer said Lizarraga worked hard in the off-season and the situation has been frustrating for Lizarraga and the team. He appeared to make earlier strides but then faced a setback. The goal has always been to progress slowly, but he was efficient against West, getting help from a more mature and improved defense.

'We kept him to 86 pitches,” Hoyer said. 'He wasn't going to go past 100 pitches.”

Lizarraga (1-0) has pitched in three games overall this season. He started against Cedar Falls June 5, giving up three hits and striking out eight in four innings. He threw a scoreless inning of relief against Burlington on June 2, striking out two.

His victory gave Hoyer 600 wins in 23 seasons as Kennedy's head coach. The milestone doesn't register with Hoyer, who has always placed his players' achievements ahead of his own.

'I don't think it should and it shouldn't,” Hoyer said about whether the win plateau matters to him. 'My concentration should be on getting the team prepared or on their next opponent and increase their chances for success.”

POSTSEASON ASSIGNMENTS

The Iowa High School Athletic Association released postseason assignments Thursday.

Class 4A seventh-ranked Linn-Mar and No. 9 Cedar Rapids Kennedy will compete in substate 3 with Cedar Falls, Marshalltown, Waterloo East and Waterloo West.

Fourth-ranked Cedar Rapids Jefferson will vie for a state berth in a substate with Clinton, Dubuque Hempstead, Dubuque Senior, North Scott and Western Dubuque.

Cedar Rapids Prairie, ranked eighth, faces a substate field that includes Cedar Rapids Washington, Iowa City High, Iowa City West, Burlington and Ottumwa.

Cedar Rapids Xavier and Marion were grouped with Center Point-Urbana, Davenport Assumption, DeWitt Central, Dubuque Wahlert, Maquoketa and Solon.

Cedar Valley Christian will play in a 1A district with Bellevue Marquette, Calamus-Wheatland, Easton Valley, No. 3 Lisbon, Midland, North Linn, Prince of Peace and Springville.

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