The Lincoln Cardinals made their first trip to the baseball Final Four, but came up just short of a trip to the title game after Canton mounted a comeback with a four-run bottom of the sixth inning to take a 5-4 lead that would hold up as the final score.
The Cardinals got the scoring started with two runs in the top of the second after a fielder’s choice brought Corbin Reese around to score, and a Grant Eifert triple brought Sam Hinrichs home.
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Canton would threaten in a big way in the bottom of the fourth by putting two runners on to start the inning. Lavion Wilson would single up the middle to bring a run home, but Lincoln center fielder Dominic Simmons would cut down a second potential run at home as catcher Derek Stephens took a hit from the runner.
The next batter would try to bunt for a hit. Lincoln threw to first for an out and Reece would throw a strike from first back to Stephens for another out at the plate to preserve the lead.
“He (Stephens) is a tough kid. He is a running back and when Coach Morrison needs tough yards he will hand it off to Derek. There is not a lot that is going to stop him,” Lynde said.
Lincoln would put up two more runs in the following half inning with the momentum on their side.
In the bottom of the sixth the wheels would fall off.
A walk, a single and an error would load the bases. Another walk pushed across a Canton run to make it 4-2. Lincoln changed pitchers, but Canton would score runs on another walk, a wild pitch and finally a sacrifice fly to cap the comeback.
“We made plays and like I said we had some walks and didn’t make one play. It is just part of the game. They gave us opportunities and we took advantage of them. We gave them opportunities and they took advantage,” Lynde said.
“It is just part of it. It just happens.”
Lincoln brings back much of its team next season with only three seniors on the roster
“I told the seniors what a great ride it’s been. They are some good young men,” Lynde said. “I told those younger kids now you know what it feels like. We are good enough to come back in football, we are good enough in basketball, and we know we are good enough in baseball because we are going to get better next year. That burning desire needs to carry on from this point on.”
Lincoln finishes its historic season with a 26-3 record.
