Newman Catholic holds on to beat Lisbon in state baseball first round

(ABC 6 News) — One down. Two to go.

The Newman Catholic Knights have had their eyes on the state tournament since the offseason after they missed out last season for the first time in an Iowa high school record 13 years.

They have been ranked #2 all season long in the state rankings, so it was fitting they are the #2 seed in the Class 1A state tournament. Their first opponent was #7 Lisbon out at Merchants Park in Caroll.

The Knights scored first in the bottom of the first inning on a sacrifice fly from senior Nash Holmgaard. They added to their total in the bottom of the third when Lisbon unsuccessfully tried to turn a double play on a ground ball from senior Bennett Suntken.

Lisbon would slowly climb their way back into the game and make it a one-run deficit, but in the 7th inning, it’s senior pitcher Doug Taylor who gets the strikeout to clinch the 3-2 victory.

The Knights will face New London on Wednesday in the semifinals.