Carroll, IA- The Class 1A Quarterfinal got underway today with the #4 seed Burlington Notre Dame facing off against the #5 seed Lisbon for the second game of the day. Unfortunately, the Nikes’ 9th trip to the state tournament ended in the first round with a 5-0 defeat at the hands of the Lions.
Lisbon started the scoring off with Lisbon led off the game with a Cohen Kamaus double and he later became the first run of the day after a dropped third strike. Despite two singles in the bottom of the first inning by Spencer Brent and Caden Schwenker, the Lions would convert a double play to extinguish the best threat of the game for the Nikes. Isaiah Crow notched the final hit of the game in the 5th inning.
Hunter Clark was masterful on the mound for Lisbon with a complete game shutout as he tallied two strikeouts in the contest. Head Coach of Notre Dame, Coach Chris Chiprez, stated frankly after the game,
“Clark had us off balance all day long. We were up there guessing; we didn’t really have a good approach at the plate today. We let a lot of fastballs go right down the middle without swinging at them. I tip my hat to them; he pitched a heck of a ballgame, and they deserved the win.”
Lisbon added three runs in the third inning and one more in the fifth inning to conclude the scoring.
Hunter Shipley, returned to the Nikes for his senior season, started the game and pitched a tough 4 innings, fanning four Lions, but took the loss. The lone senior of the squad helped pave the way for Notre Dame this season as he finished the year with 8 victories and a sub-1.50 ERA. Coach Chiprez, Shipley’s godfather, had this to say after the contest,
“He’s been lights out for us and we wouldn’t be in the position we’re in right now if it weren’t for him.”
The Nikes finished the season with a 26-7 record and with most of their team set to return next season, Coach Chiprez left us with this final remark,
“There’s a good possibility for us to be back here next year.”
The pursuit for their 2nd state championship will begin in the spring of 2024.