116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Special Lisbon senior class ends state baseball run with runner-up finish to Remsen St. Mary’s
Hawks win Class 1A championship, 9-4
Jul. 21, 2023 3:36 pm, Updated: Jul. 21, 2023 3:54 pm
CARROLL — The resume of Lisbon’s senior baseball players is long.
One that is impressive enough to certainly be considered one of the best in school history. They are also a group near and dear to Lions Coach John Tesensky’s heart.
“It’s been a special group,” said Tesensky, who started at Lisbon as an assistant and coached the current seniors in junior high. “To see their maturation, the baseball players they have developed into but also more the young men they developed into, that’s pretty special.”
The special run has come to an end. No. 3 Remsen St. Mary’s stopped No. 9 Lisbon, 7-4, to capture the Class 1A state baseball championship Friday afternoon at Merchants Park. The Hawks won their fifth state title and first since 2016.
“We played three really great games,” Lisbon senior Alex Bock said. “Huge props to Remsen St. Mary’s. They had some kids that can ball. They’re a really good team. They deserved it all the way.
“I’m proud of the run and I think it’s going to be remembered.”
The Lions reached state for the third straight season, which is a first in school history. They advanced to the finals for the third time in school history, earning Lisbon’s second runner-up finish since 2018. Don’t forget three Tri-Rivers Conference East Division crowns and 104 total victories, including a 27-5 mark this year.
“The work and the effort they have put in over the course of the year is special to see come as far as we did,” Tesensky said. “I think we surprised a lot of teams, playing in this game.
“Again, it’s proof of the team’s hard work that everyone put in this year.”
St. Mary’s built a 4-0 lead through three with a pair of extra base hits. Cael Ortmann’s double in the first scored Jaxon Bunkers to open the scoring. The Hawks padded their lead in the third. Collin Homan’s triple to deep right field chased in Bunkers and Alex Schroeder. Hunter Pick followed with an RBI single for the four-run advantage.
“Sometimes a ball drops. It pops out of a glove,” Tesensky said. “We withstood a couple big innings from them.”
Lisbon rallies were hard to muster, but the first substantial one came in the fourth. The Lions did load the bases on singles from Hunter Clark and Luke Czarnecki followed by Kaden Caspers getting hit by a pitch. Aiden Jensen stepped to the plate with two outs and dropped a Texas league single into right field. Runners took off on contact and all three scored to pull within a run.
“It felt good to get those three runs,” Clark said. “We were right back in it.”
The Hawks (32-2) appeared to ice it with a three-run fifth. Schroeder walked and Ortmann doubled. An intentional walk loaded the bases. Sacrifice bunts from Pick and Isaiah Gerrietts sandwiched Landon Waldschmitt’s RBI single.
“They were right on me,” Clark said. “That’s a good hitting team.
“At the end of the day, they beat us.”
Clark and Czarnecki led the way with two hits apiece. Caspers had a team-high two RBIs.
The Lions milled around behind the dugout. They exchanged hugs and handshakes with teammates and coaches. The summers have been filled with baseball and each other. It has been a good ride.
“It’s wild to think that it’s over after so many years,” Clark said. “We’ve played together since we were 6 or 7 years old. I wouldn’t want to do it with any other guys. It was so much fun. I had a blast. I love every single one of them.”
Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com
Daily Newsletters