Two KCII area baseball teams will battle in the night cap of a district doubleheader tonight in Lone Tree. The Lone Tree Lions (15-9 overall) have been paired in the Class 1A District 9 tournament bracket against the Sigourney Savages (11-16 overall).

The Lions’ success has been predicated largely due to their pitching and defense. Lone Tree posts a team earned run average of 2.26, top in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference and ranks in the top 20 in Class 1A baseball. Senior Erik Murray is the Lions’ ace, pitching a team-high 54 innings this season, reporting a 5-2 record, and an earned run average of 2.19. Sophomore Ross Swinton has the best earned run average on the team at 2.08 despite winning only two of his five starts this season. Lone Tree’s inconsistencies this season have come at the plate. The Lions have scored two or fewer runs in 11 games this season, going 2-9 in those outcomes including being shut out four times.

The Savages enter postseason play on a positive note, winning three of their final four regular season games. Sigourney junior Peyton Crawford struck out his 100th batter of the season last Monday in a 4-3 setback to the Iowa Valley Tigers (16-6). Crawford’s 100th season strikeout was also his 200th career K and he has 102 total strikeouts this season. Crawford also has a team leading six home runs, 37 runs batted in, and 24 stolen bases in 25 attempts offensively.

First pitch of tonight’s Class 1A District 9 quarterfinal between the Lions and Savages is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Lone Tree High School. KCII Sports will have live play by play coverage of the game immediately following the Iowa Mennonite School and Highland tournament game on FM 106.1 and KCIIRadio.com.