The Cloverdale Lady Eagles were crowned champions of the NCL-1 softball world on May 13, scoring a 5-4 win over visiting Clear Lake in eight innings to capture the title.
The win gave the ladies a final league record of 13-1, and 16-5 overall.
The Eagles’ victory could not have been more satisfying, erasing a two-run deficit with a dramatic, three-run rally in the bottom of the eighth to secure the league pennant.
“It was an amazing win against Clear Lake,” CHS veteran coach Margaret Fitzgerald said. “The team would not give up in the last game of the year. I’m so proud of their accomplishment – NCL-1 champions!”
On Sunday, the Eagles were awarded the fourth seed in the North Coast Section Division-4 playoff tournament, and at press time were preparing to host number-13 McKinleyville in the opener on May 21. Should Cloverdale win as expected, it will advance to play the survivor of the Moreau Catholic-Middletown game on Saturday, May 24 (time TBA). Check the NCS website at www.cifncs.org for updated tourney information as it becomes available.
“Our division is very strong and the team that can put a run together will win the championship,” predicted Fitzgerald.
The complete list of NCS Division-4 teams in seeding order is: Salesian (15-1), St. Patrick/St. Vincent (22-5), Fortuna (17-5), Cloverdale (16-5), Moreau Catholic (12-6), Marin Catholic (16-6), Clear Lake (18-5), Lower Lake (17-7), Berean Christian (11-9), Justin Siena (8-14), Cardinal Newman (9-11), Middletown (12-8), McKinleyville (10-10), and John Swett (8-8).
Eagles edge Cardinals
It was all on the line when Cloverdale took the field against visiting Clear Lake on May 13, with both teams entering the game with one league loss.
In a tense low-scoring battle, the Cardinals held a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning before the Eagles scratched for a solo run to send it into extra frames knotted at 2-2. It looked like the visitors would seal a victory with two runs in the top of the eighth, but it would only provide more fuel for Cloverdale’s fantastic finish.
Down by two, the Eagles came alive in the bottom of the eighth when Amy Mora singled and Kelsi Sibert followed with a shot off the pitcher’s foot for another hit. Pinch hitter Jenna Cheli was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Jazmin Orozco followed with a clutch, two-run single to tie the game. Sophomore Hailey Donahoo ended the madness with a game-winning RBI knock to lift the Eagles to a 5-4 victory.
Sophomore hurler Teanne Edens was terrific in notching her 16th win of the season, firing eight innings of six-hit ball, yielding one walk and three earned runs while fanning five. Top hitters were Mora (3 for 4, 2 runs), Donahoo (2 for 4, 2B, run, RBI), Sibert (2 for 4, run), Rignee DenBeste (1 for 3, RBI), Orozco (1 for 3, RBI), and Cheli (RBI).
