Seniors propel Lisbon to third straight Class 1A state tournament berth for first time in school history

LISBON — This is about more than one season.

A quest that began well before Lisbon’s current three-year streak of postseason runs to the state baseball tournament.

Picture 6- and 7-year-olds hacking at a ball set on a tee and running carefree, circling the bases, and chasing the ball around in the dirt. The youngsters that played together have mostly stayed together.

Led by nine seniors — most of whom played together as youths — the Lions have become the first group in program history to qualify for three straight state tournaments. Now, No. 9 Lisbon will attempt one final run together, playing in a Class 1A quarterfinal against Burlington Notre Dame on Monday at Merchants Park in Carroll, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

“Our bond is really strong, and I think that has been a huge part of our success, especially these last few years,” Lions senior Alex Bock said. “We just know each other and know how each other play so well. I think it has propelled us into being a pretty decent team.”

Pretty decent is a bit of an understatement. The current seniors have won 102 games and three straight Tri-Rivers Conference East Division championships since joining the program as eighth graders. They have secured the program’s 10th state appearance and produced its longest qualifying stretch.

The aspects away from the X’s and O’s have played as big of a role as pitching, defense and hitting.

“Team camaraderie is a big thing,” Lisbon senior infielder and pitcher Cohen Kamaus said. “We just get each other. If someone is having a tough time, do you leave him alone or go and talk to him? I would say that’s a big thing off the field.”

The foundation began to set in first grade when a couple players’ fathers decided to take most of that T-ball group and form a competitive team. They played in one tournament, placing third out of four teams in Monticello. Bock recalled more of the origin story, while Kamaus remembered it was their first time playing baseball together and he lost his first tooth the previous morning.

“From then on, I think eight of the current nine seniors played on that team,” Bock said. “It is crazy because we were like 6 and nearly 90 percent of us are still playing together 12 years later.”

Lisbon Coach John Tesensky said reaching state is tough. Doing it three years in a row is a testament to the leaders this group has become.

“It says how special our team is and I think as we’ve talked throughout the season, it stems from the experience and the senior leadership that we have,” Tesensky said. “We have had guys who have contributed to the starting lineup since eighth grade. Those eighth graders as sophomores were fortunate to make it to the state tournament. They’ve done a really good job this year.”

Their six top hitters are all seniors. They also account for all the team’s starts on the mound with Kamaus leading the team in wins and all-stater Hunter Clark close behind with wins in the district semifinal and the 7-0 substate final victory over GMG.

“Hunter Clark has competed for us on the mound,” Tesensky said. “He does some catching for us, too, being our defensive captain out there and seeing the field.

“Cohen Kamaus has come up with some big hits in his career for us. … This year, stepping up on the mound and eating as many innings as he has for us. That’s been big, too.”

At the plate, Bock and Landon Stolte pace the Lions in hits and batting average. They also serve as the leaders by example.

“They’re at No. 2 and 3 spots for us and have been super consistent,” Tesensky said. “Both of those guys are a bit on the quiet side but when they come to practice, they take the field ready to work. I think that approach really speaks volumes about the leadership qualities that they have.”

The team has focused on the return to Carroll during the winter and spring. Not only did they not want to bow out earlier than the last two season, but they wanted to be the first three-timers.

“It was put in our ear during the offseason that no Lisbon team has made it three years in a row,” Kamaus said. “It didn’t really add any motivation because we were already there. We wanted to be there. It was definitely a big goal to get back. When you do it as sophomores and juniors you feel like you have to do it your senior year.”

Unfortunately, none of those trips have produced a state win. The Lions lost a tough one to eventual 2021 champion Council Bluffs St. Albert. They lost by one to second-seeded Mason City Newman last year. The current Lions have a different vibe, according to Bock.

“I think it showed we can compete with the best in the state,” said Bock, noting how Clark matched Newman ace Doug Taylor pitch for pitch in last year’s 3-2 quarterfinal. “That gave us all the confidence that we can compete with these types of teams because we did it against one of the best teams in the state with their guy on the mound.”

Tesensky provided a little reminder by posting the box scores from those two games. Whether it works or not has yet to be determined. Tesensky noticed the Lions weren’t satisfied with just a substate title.

“You could see the hunger in their eyes,” Tesensky said. “Just remind these guys it’s our expectation to make the state tournament but we should have higher aspirations than just being one of the final eight teams. Let’s be one of the final four teams, the final two teams or let’s win it all.”

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