The varsity baseball Eagles stretched their league unbeaten streak to three games last week, claiming Willits and Kelseyville as their latest victims.
Cloverdale (3-0, 6-4) got the job done the old-fashioned way — combining solid pitching and defense with clutch hitting to dispatch both opponents.
“We’re continuing to improve each game and are starting to perform in situations that demand it,” CHS coach Ben West reported. “Beating Kelseyville was a big win and we hope to keep the momentum moving forward into another big week of league games.”
At press time the Eagles were preparing to resume league action at Fort Bragg on April 2, before returning home to host Middletown this Friday, April 5 at 4 p.m. weather permitting. Cloverdale will visit El Molino in a non-league contest on Saturday, April 6 at 11 a.m. and entertain St. Helena on Tuesday, April 9 at 4 p.m.
Eagles win a pair
Cloverdale sent Tyler Ruys to the hill in the March 26 visit to Willits, cruising into the fifth inning before the Wolverines connected on a grand slam to grab a 4-3 lead. Not a problem, as the Eagles erupted for a six-run, two out rally in their next at-bat to take a lead. They would not relinquish en route to a 10-5 win.
Ruys (4.2 IP, 5 hits, 5 ERs, 6 Ks) got a no-decision while freshman David Alvarez (2.1 IP, 1 hit, 0 ERs, 4 Ks) notched the win in relief. Top hitters included Logan Axell (3 for 4, 3 RBIs), Josh Lemley (2 for 3, 2B, run, 2 RBIs), Keller Sibert (1 for 4, 2 runs), Drew Edens (1 for 3, 3 runs, RBI), Jone Wesele (1 for 4, 2 runs, RBI) and Spencer Hoover (1 for 1).
Senior Keller Sibert got the start in Friday’s home clash with Kelseyville, keeping his team in the game in trailing 3-1 after six innings. Cloverdale saved its hometown heroics for the seventh inning, getting a two-run single from Collin Patterson to score Edens and Sibert to walk off with a 4-3 victory.
“The confidence that the kids showed in this situation was outstanding,” West noted. “They were poised and did not try to do to much, and were selective and hit the ball where it was pitched. It was an exciting finish that showed a lot about the character of this baseball team,” he added.
Sibert (6 IP, 6 hits, 3 ERs, 5 Ks) pitched well in a no-decision while Alvarez (1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs) earned his second straight win. Pacing the bat attack were Patterson (2 for 4, 2 RBIs), Axell (2 for 3, RBI), Tucker Morgan (2 for 3, run), Lemley (2 for 3, run) and Alvarez (1 for 2).
