Big first inning, solid pitching propel Lisbon past Belle Plaine in district baseball semifinal game

LISBON — Hunter Clark remains his own toughest critic.

Take his latest start, for example. The senior right-hander helped Lisbon extend its season and was already dissecting what he could do better before the City Park lights went dark.

“I’ve got to get better (Thursday) during practice,” Clark said. “I’m sure I’ll get another opportunity to compete on the mound. It will be a heck of a lot better than tonight.”

Clark struck out 10 in six innings and the ninth-ranked Lions defeated Belle Plaine, 7-3, in a Class 1A District 8 baseball semifinal Wednesday night. Lisbon advanced to host third-seeded Easton Valley in the district final Saturday.

“We’ll enjoy tonight,” said Lisbon Coach John Tesensky, who recorded his 100th career victory against the Plainesmen. “Then, we’ll be 0-0 again. The mission doesn’t change. The approach doesn’t change. We go out and try to win one game.

“It’s nice to get this one, especially for these seniors.”

Clark led the Lions last season with a 7-2 record in nine starts with a 1.64 earned-run average, striking out 70 in 51 1/3 innings. He was 6-2 in the same amount of starts in 2021, tallying 83 strikeouts in 58 innings with a 1.81. ERA.

This year has come with an added obstacle. A back injury from the offseason that lingered into the spring kept him out of the lineup for the opening week and prevented him from getting on the mound until Week 3 of the short six-week regular season.

“It bummed me out,” Clark said. “I went home and sat about it. My team needed me to be the biggest cheerleader in the dugout as I can. Cheer them on and bring them up in time of need. Do what you’ve got to do.”

Clark improved to 4-0 after the win against Belle Plaine, increasing his strikeout total to 43 in 30 innings. He said he is 100 percent physically now.

“I had minimal starts because of that but I’ve recovered pretty well from that,” Clark said. “It feels good now. I’m ready for the playoffs.”

Tesensky eased him back to allow him to heal, prevent him from aggravating it and avoid any issues with his future at Simpson College. The move helped the Lions develop depth, including five pitchers with at least three wins.

“Him being able to throw and compete for us now is that much more important,” Tesensky said. “We’ve had other guys step up and throw.”

Most of the offense for both teams came in the first. Belle Plaine (10-9) took the lead on Connor Timm’s leadoff walk and Jack Schwenn’s RBI double.

The Lions (23-4) answered immediately, sending 11 batters to the plate and putting the first eight on base in the bottom half. They benefited from some control trouble and sloppy defense, drawing four walks and capitalizing on three errors. Dillon Brayton and Luke Czarnecki had RBI singles, Clark drove in a run and Kaden Caspers’ bases-loaded walk added another.

“I think it was huge,” Tesensky said. “More so than just getting a lead, it was about responding.

“For us to put together good at-bats and get his (pitch) count up and get guys on was vital.”

Belle Plaine didn’t have another runner reach base until the two-run sixth as Clark’s pitch count climbed to the maximum. Clark struck out the side in the third and allowed just five total hits.

“When he competes, we’re in a lot of baseball games,” Tesensky said. “He gives us a good look.

“That’s a huge effort from him.”

Lisbon answered in the sixth with two more, receiving an RBI single from Alex Bock and a bases-loaded walk to Brayton.

Cohen Kamaus, who leads the Lions with a 7-0 record, worked a scoreless seventh in relief.

The Lions have moved within two wins of a third straight state appearance. Easton Valley (11-10) is the next opponent. Lisbon swept the River Hawks, 9-2 and 9-6, on June 19.

“Coach (Tesensky) makes the point in practice we have to go 1-0 each round,” Clark said. “We can’t get worse. We can’t stay the same. We have to get better every day.

“One team goes home and one team wins. We want to be that team that keeps advancing.”