The Lake Orion Baptist School baseball team fell short in the Michigan Association of Christian Schools state final for the second consecutive year when Faith Baptist of Davison defeated the Lions 6-1 at Holly High School on June 3.
Junior pitcher Adam Lowe stifled the Lions? bats by striking out five and only allowing three hits while walking three in six innings.
The Lions took an early lead in the third inning, when senior catcher Cole Welby singled, stole second base and scored on an RBI single by Zach Halleck.
But Lowe shut down the next 10 Lion hitters. In the seventh, James Moreno singled and Welby doubled with two outs before reliever Paul Vanaman ended the threat with a David King ground out.
King, the Lions? junior southpaw, pitched a fine game on a swollen ankle, surrendering eight hits and three walks while striking out seven.
King pitched a gem in the semifinal, beating Rochester Hills Christian 7-0 by striking out nine and walking none in a complete game victory. He was also hot at the plate, with two hits and two RBIs.
Welby sparked the Lions? eleven hit attack with a single, two doubles and five stolen bases.
LO Baptist finished the season with a record of 16-5-1 and will lose only two seniors (Cole Welby and Jon Moreno) from this year’s squad.
With King, who was 18-4 on the mound the last two seasons, chances are good to see the Lions playing on the last day of the season again in 2007.