Stroschein shows poise for Lions

MARION - Linn-Mar pitcher Austin Stroschein has been down this road before.Playoff baseball, scoreless game. The 6-foot-4 senior brushed away any nerves and waited on his offense to come around.“You kind of get nervous in playoff games at first, but this is my third year of substate baseball so I kind of knew what to expect,” Stroschein said. “Settled in there and got the win.”Behind a timely defense and some clutch pitches, Stroschein pitched out of trouble in each of the first four innings and held Cedar Rapids Washington scoreless, scattering six hits in a 5-0 complete-game victory over the Warriors in a Class 4A substate opener Friday night at the Linn-Mar baseball/softball complex.“All playoff games are going to be tight, it doesn't matter who they are or how their season went,” Stroschein said. “All playoff games are going to be tough. Wash battled, and we scrapped out a win.”Linn-Mar snapped the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning when senior Kyle Mortensen ripped a single to left-center off Washington starter Matt Troendle (6-2), scoring Caleb Reimer.“I think that was big for us,” Mortensen said. “I got all fastballs on that one.”Mortensen advanced to second when Washington center fielder Landen Akers misplayed his hit and scored one batter later on an RBI single from Jack Strellner.Staked to a 2-0 lead, Stroschein (7-1) retired the side in order in the bottom of the fifth, his only 1-2-3 inning.“It's always easier once you have the lead. It's a lot easier to pitch,” Stroschein said.Austin Banks had an RBI double and scored a run in the sixth inning, and Stroschein tacked on an RBI single in the seventh. Linn-Mar (25-14) will host Cedar Rapids Kennedy in Monday's substate semifinal at 7 p.m.Noah Dostal was 3-for-3 at the plate for Washington, which ends at 14-20. The loss marked the end of Tony Lombardi's run as Washington's baseball and football coach. Lombardi announced his resignation in April amid allegations of player mistreatment and had a closing message for his squad.“That I'm proud of them, and it's been a pleasure coaching them,” Lombardi said. “It was a positive year for us overall given, you know. ... The kids we have in our program, the commitment they have, I'm proud of them.”As for his next move professionally?“I don't know,” Lombardi said. “Undecided.”