The smell of hot dogs and freshly cut grass will soon merge with excitement and anticipation, as the Cloverdale Eagles kick off the 2019 high school baseball campaign.
Although some preseason games have been rescheduled due to rain, the Eagles are coming off a pair of home wins in the opening week of the preseason with victories over Credo (6-0) and Sonoma Academy (5-4).
Under returning coach Ben West, Cloverdale is coming off a resurgent 2018 season that featured an overall record of 14-8 and a trip to the North Coast Section playoffs.
With most of their roster back this year, the 2019 campaign could be even better.
“We’re excited to be back after it in baseball this season,” West reported. “We’re hoping with a strong core of returners and some new strong athletes that we can have a successful season. What we’re hoping for is to pick up where we left off last season, going 8-2 in our last 10 games heading into playoffs.”
Heading the list of varsity returnees are seniors; four-year star infielder Drew Edens, pitcher/infielder Keller Sibert, outfielder/pitcher Tucker Morgan, juniors; outfielder/pitcher Dylan Scaramella, outfielder Max Sanders and sophomores; first baseman Josh Lemley and catcher Collin Patterson.
Varsity newcomers are seniors: outfielder Cesar Buenrostro, outfielder/pitcher Jone Wesele, infielder Thomas Giovanetto, catcher Isaiah Holloman, junior utility-man Spencer Hoover and pitcher/third baseman Tyler Ruys and sophomore utility-man Logan Axell.
The Eagles’ strength could lie in their stable of arms, with a pitching staff that should be both effective and versatile.
“We have multiple arms that can compete at the varsity level,” West noted. “I’ve seen major improvements in Sibert and Scaramella and expect them to perform well and throw a lot of innings for us this year. We’re also excited to see the development of Patterson, Eden and Ruys on the bump this year as well.”
Hitting will certainly be strength as Cloverdale fields some of the top bats in the Redwood Empire.
“Offensively we have the heart of order coming back this year with Patterson, Edens and Lemley,” West said. “The bats got hot at the end of last year and we hope to grow off of this and continue to bring a hot bat into the season. As long as we continue to see quality at-bats and execute with runners in scoring position, we will produce,” he added.
Eagles notch wins
Cloverdale rode the hot hand of winning pitcher Dylan Scaramella (4 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 4 Ks) in the season opener against visiting Credo on Feb. 19, while Patterson (2 for 3, 2 2Bs, 2 runs, 3 RBIs), Ruys (2 for 3, RBI), Morgan (1 for 3) and Sibert (1 for 3) provided the offense in a 6-0 win.
The Eagles were tested in the Feb. 22 clash with Sonoma Academy, as Sibert (4.1 IP, 7 hits, 2 ERs, 6 Ks), Scaramella, Edens (1.1 IP, 1 hit, 0 ERs, 2 Ks) and Scaramella (1.1 IP, 0 hits, 0 ERs, 1 K) combined mound forces in an exciting victory. Edens was the man of the hour, lacing a two-out, two-run, single in the seventh inning as Cloverdale walked off with a 5-4 win.
“Drew did a great job of understanding the situation and simplifying his approach,” West noted.
Also hitting safely for the Eagles was Morgan (2 for 3, RBI).
Next up for Cloverdale (2-0) is a March 4 visit to El Molino at 3:30 p.m.
