Seventh-ranked Lisbon continues impressive start

ALBURNETT - The Lisbon Lions have made a statement early this baseball season.

They may have added the exclamation mark as well.

The Class 1A seventh-ranked Lions swept No. 3 Alburnett, 6-4 and 17-6, last night in a Tri-Rivers Conference doubleheader at Alburnett. Lisbon continued its impressive start, improving to 13-0 overall, and handing Alburnett (8-4) its first losses to a 1A foe.

'By far, those were are biggest games of the year,” Lisbon senior Ryan Schrantz said. 'It gives us confidence for the rest of the season. It's momentum for us in the conference. It was a great team win.”

Last season, Lisbon stumbled in the postseason. The disappointing finish has powered the Lions. Schrantz said they want to finish the job this season and reach the state tournament with title aspirations. The wins over the rival Pirates and taking control of the conference race was a step closer.

'As a team, we feel we are good enough to go undefeated this season,” Schrantz said. 'It's a big goal. We're taking it one step at a time. It's great to start off the way we have, and hope to keep playing as well as we are right now.”

The Lions exploded for 14 hits in the nightcap, including a 5-for-5 performance from Schrantz. In the fourth, he had a two-run single to right field, beyond the glove of a diving second baseman, giving the Lions a 6-5 lead they didn't relinquish.

Schrantz also had a sacrifice fly in the second, putting Lisbon up 4-1, and an RBI single in a seven-run seventh that cemented the sweep. Connor Woodward and Ryan light each had three hits, while Colton Krob scored four times for Lisbon.

'Our team has been hitting the ball well,” Schrantz said. 'We have a lot of experience coming back. I think a lot of players on the team are seeing the ball really well and finding ways on base.”

The game was tight through four innings. Lisbon jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first, but the Pirates answered with one in their first at-bat. They sent 10 batters to the plate in the third, scoring four runs for a 5-4 lead. Bryce Paul had a two-run triple to highlight the frame. Kyle Kristiansen added two hits for Alburnett.

The Lions clawed their way to a win in the opener. Lisbon broke open a tight game with a three-run sixth inning.

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