Relaxed Lone Tree ready for substate finals

Lone Tree Coach Steve Gibson observed Monday's baseball practice and witnessed a lively and relaxed team.

He considered it a good sign with a big game on the horizon.

'I'd be more worried if everyone showed up quiet, focused and nervous,” Gibson said. 'That is not their personality. They are a loose group.”

The Lions have parlayed that approach into a successful campaign that has led to the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 1A Substate Championship game Tuesday at Washington. Lone Tree will vie for its second state tournament berth against Burlington-Notre Dame, starting at 7 p.m.

'I'm just trying to keep everyone having fun and loose, and not thinking too much of the situation,” said Gibson, in his second year as the Lions head coach. 'I hope we can show up, play ball and have fun with it.”

Gibson praised senior captains Levi Saterfield, Ty Robertson and Shay Hudachek for their leadership, noting the team has its share of characters.

'They have done a great job for us,” Gibson said. 'Those are guys I give a lot of credit.”

Success breeds enjoyment and fun leads to more success, creating a cycle that has produced a 20-6 mark. The Lions have thrived thanks to a close-knit group that plays multiple sports together. The game of baseball is important, but so is the camaraderie they take the field with in practice and competition.

'We just focus on having fun,” Saterfield said. 'We like to win, of course, but fun is definitely a big part of it.”

Lone Tree is also on the verge of adding a page to its record book. The Lions have not been to the state tournament since 2001, which is the lone state appearance.

'It's a pretty neat deal,” Gibson said. 'It's exciting for the school, the kids and the whole community is stepping on board.”

The Lions hit .315 as a team with Robertson hitting .393 and sophomore Greg Feldman at .375. The pitching has been solid all season, owning a 1.88 team earned-run average and sitting 15th in 1A with 89 total runs allowed.

Erik Murry leads the staff with a 7-2 record and 0.69 ERA. Ross Swinton is 4-1 with a 1.31 ERA. Swinton earned the win in a 5-4 victory over Midland to start the postseason. Murry struck out 12 in a 4-3 district final win against Highland.

Murry is a tall and lanky power pitcher with a good changeup, striking out 92 in 61 innings.

'He's had a great season,” Gibson said. 'He had a good season as a varsity pitcher last year…he's gotten bigger and stronger. He's a workhorse for us.”

Saterfield said the Lions are approaching it like any other game they have played from the start of the season. They will need to rely on basics.

'We need good pitching,” Saterfield said. 'We need to minimize our errors, which we've done well in the postseason, and we need to hit like we have been.”

Burlington-Notre Dame (17-9) knocked off third-ranked Van Buren in the district final. The Nikes have won five straight games and nine of their last 10.

'Up and down the lineup they are a good hitting team,” Gibson said. 'They like to run, so they present challenges. The main thing is we need to focus on ourselves and playing our game.”

In other 1A competition, BGM is looking for its first state tournament berth. The seventh-ranked Bears (24-2) face Grundy Center (13-18) at Traer.

In 2A, third-ranked Dyersville Beckman (26-13) will try to keep its hopes for a third straight state title alive against No. 4 Wilton (26-6) at Linn-Mar.

Iowa City Regina (25-16) plays Louisa-Muscatine (24-6) at Solon. Eighth-ranked South Winneshiek (33-1) travels to Mason City to take on Eagle Grove (10-18).

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@sourcemedia.net