Cloverdale teams set to open league campaign this week
The Cloverdale Lady Eagles will have their sights set on reclaiming softball supremacy this week as North Central League-1 action gets underway.
The Eagles saw their run of three straight league titles snapped by Clear Lake in 2016 and have every intention of leapfrogging the Cardinals this spring.
At press time Cloverdale (4-2) was preparing for a final pre-league tune-up at St. Mary’s in Albany on March 28 before returning home to host Middletown in the league opener this Friday, March 31.
The Lady Eagles managed to get in two games in the annual Cloverdale Invitational Tournament on March 25, an event that saw Friday’s first round action washed out due to rain. Cloverdale managed an even split, riding the hot hand of freshman pitcher Tehya Bird to easily dispatch St. Bernard’s (10-0) before falling to Cardinal Newman in the second game, 7-1.
“We played very well in the first game against St. Bernard’s, it was a good team effort and Tehya Bird pitched a 1-hitter with 11 strikeouts,” CHS coach Margaret Fitzgerald reported. “We were a little sloppy in the second game and gave the Cardinals several unearned runs.”
Eagles gain split
Cloverdale made short work of St. Bernard’s of Eureka in Saturday’s tournament opener, as Bird proved too much for Crusaders’ hitters in a six-inning gem. The Eagles struck for two runs in the first inning and added another two in the third, three in the fourth and sixth to force an early stoppage in a 10- win.
Bird was dominant, yielding just one hit and a walk while fanning 11 of the 19 batters she faced to notch the win. Top hitters included Bird (2 for 2, 3B, 3 runs, RBI), Hannah Bireschi (2 for 4, 2 RBIs), Angelina Campos (1 for 4, 2 RBIs), Josie Marrufo (1 for 4, 3 runs, RBI), Lane Hughes (1 for 3, run, RBI) and Heather Sterling (1 for 2, 3 runs).
The Eagles were back on the field in Saturday’s afternoon contest against Cardinal Newman, as the Cardinals staked winning pitcher Abby Vinson to an early lead and never trailed en route to a 7-1 victory.
Bird deserved a better fate, tossing a complete-game, allowing 8 hits and 2 earned runs while issuing 3 free passes and striking out 6 to take the loss. Leading hitters included Bird (1 for 3, 2B, RBI), Campos (1 for 3) and Marrufo (1 for 3).
Eagles baseballers set for league
The varsity baseball Eagles (1-2) are coming off an idle week and will open the NCL-1 schedule this Friday, March 31 against visiting Middletown (4 p.m.). Cloverdale will wrap up the preseason on Wednesday, March 29 at St. Vincent’s of Petaluma.
