The Lone Tree Lions are preparing to throw the first pitch of a new baseball season tonight. Lone Tree had a record of 7-14 last year, including four wins in conference play, but they will bring back the reigning Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Player of the Year in Emmett Burke.

The junior led the conference with a .467 batting average in 2024 and finished with seven doubles, 19 runs scored and 18 stolen bases. The Lions also have back seniors Maddox Jondle and Brody Magruder, who each hit over .270 and combined to score 28 runs and collect 21 runs batted in.

Senior Jack Paterson returns to lead the pitching staff after posting a 3.04 earned-run average and 55 strikeouts in over 50 innings on the mound. Lone Tree head coach Michael Eden tells KCII Sports that his team has the right heading, they just need to start down the winning path.

“I’ve already seen a lot of progression, just in the off-season,” Eden says. “I think our lack of numbers last year will actually help us be successful this year [because of] a lot of playing time last year.”

The Lions start their new baseball season by traveling to Louisa-Muscatine this evening.