Eagles looking to move up in second half of season
Cloverdale High School baseball and softball teams are coming off a solid stretch on the diamond, with both notching significant wins on the league circuit.
The Eagles (2-7, 1-4) got off the schneid for their first league victory on April 18 in a 5-3 varsity baseball win over visiting Willits, but dropped a 5-4 heartbreaker at Kelseyville on Friday. At press time Cloverdale was preparing to resume NCL-1 action on April 25 against visiting Middletown and will host Fort Bragg this Friday, April 28. Both games start at 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Lady Eagles (10-3, 5-1) logged wins in two of three outings, soundly defeating Willits (8-1) and Clear Lake (8-1) before falling at Kelseyville (4-2). The result kept the Eagles just a game back of first place Kelseyville in the league standings. Cloverdale returns home for a three-game home stand with games against Middletown (April 25), Laytonville (April 26) and Fort Bragg (April 28). First pitch in each game is 4 p.m.
Baseballers turn back Willits
It was only a matter of time for the Eagles when Willits came calling on April 18, as pitcher Kamrin Mitchell climbed the hill opposite Wolverines’ starter Tyler Vessey. Cloverdale pushed across solo runs in each of the first two innings before Willits clawed back with three in the fifth to take the lead. The Eagles didn’t flinch, mounting a three-run uprising in the bottom of the frame en route to a 5-3 win.
Mitchell earned the win while top hitters were James Wirt (2 for 3), Mitchell (2 for 2), Drew Edens (1 for 2, 3B), Nick Menzell (1 for 3) and Keller Sibert (1 for 3).
Cloverdale paid a visit to perennial power Kelseyville on April 20, nearly erasing a 3-0 deficit with a late rally before eventually falling 5-4 (no stats were available).
Lady Eagles in title contention
The Lady Eagles opened their recent stretch in an April 18 clash with visiting Willits, easily besting in cruising to an 8-1 win. Pitcher Tehya Bird turned in a two-hit 10 strikeout effort while also clubbing a double and two homers. Other top hitters included Heather Sterling (3 for 4, 2 runs), Josie Marrufo (3 for 4, 3 runs, RBI) and Lane Hughes (1 for 3).
Cloverdale traveled to face defending league champion Clear Lake the following day, rallying from a 1-0 deficit with a four-run uprising in the sixth to ice an 8-1 victory. Bird (7 IP, 5 hits, 1 ER, 9 Ks) earned the win, while leading hitters were Emily Harris (2 for 4, RBI), Sterling (2 for 4, 2 runs), Marrufo (1 for 4, 2 runs), Nicky Martinez (1 for 3, 2 runs) and Bird (1 for 2, run, 3 RBIs).
The Lady Eagles weathered their first league loss on Friday at Kelseyville, managing just four hits while committing four fielding errors in a 4-2 loss. Bird (7 IP, 5 hits, 1 ER, 9 Ks) deserved a better fate, while top hitters were Sterling (2 for 3, RBI), Bird (1 for 1) and Marrufo (1 for 3, run).
“Against Clear Lake we played really well on defense and put a lot of pressure on them offensively,” CHS coach Margaret Fitzgerald reported. “On Friday, we struggled a little on defense which cost us the game. Kelseyville played as well as they can play and we still stayed close with a sub-par performance.”
