It was a mixed bag on the local high school diamonds last week, as the Cloverdale varsity baseball squad stayed in the NCL-1 title hunt while the defending league champion Lady Eagles saw their hopes diminish for a softball repeat.
The CHS baseballers are fresh off a pair of shutout home and away victories over Lower Lake (10-0) and Clear Lake (6-0) to push their overall record to 12-5 and 9-1 in league, one game back of first-place Kelseyville (10-0).
Rounding out the standings were St. Helena (6-3), Fort Bragg (5-4), Middletown (5-6), Clear Lake (4-7), Willits (2-9) and Lower Lake (0-11).
At press time Cloverdale was preparing for the final phase of the league season with a road game at St. Helena (May 10, after press time), followed by critical road and home dates with Kelseyville (May 18-19). Assuming the Eagles win this week, next week’s games will likely decide the league champion.
Meanwhile the Lady Eagles (14-3 overall) gained a split in two games last week, scoring a 5-1 home win over Lower Lake before dropping a tough, 2-1 decision at Clear Lake.
At the start of play on Tuesday, Cloverdale (8-2) was two full games back of Clear Lake (10-0), and a half game up on third place Lower Lake (7-2). Filling out the league standings were Kelseyville (5-4), Fort Bragg (2-5), St. Helena (2-6), Willits (1-7) and Middletown (1-8).
The girls will resume NCL-1 action on May 10 at St. Helena, followed by home and away dates with Kelseyville (May 12, Senior Day) and Willits (May 13). Cloverdale will close out the regular season on Tuesday, May 17 at Kelseyville. All games start at 4 p.m.
Baseballers blank foes
Cloverdale pitchers are coming off a pair of impressive performances in varsity baseball action, beginning with a May 3 clash with visiting Lower Lake. The Eagles rode the hot hand of winning pitcher Michael McDermott (5 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 4 Ks), jumping out to an 8-0 lead after two innings en route to a 10-0 shutout win in five.
Pacing the Cloverdale bat attack were Jared Hibbeln (3 for 4, 2 runs, 3 RBIs), McDermott (3 for 3, run, 3 RBIs), Jeff Persons (3 for 3), Pat Ojeda (1 for 3, HR, run, 3 RBIs), Chris Harms (1 for 2, 2B, run), Mason Kostoff (1 for 1), Angel Vega (1 for 3, run, RBI), Nick Menzell (1 for 2, run) and James Wirt (1 for 2, 2 runs).
Starter Chris Harms (7 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 6 Ks) climbed the hill in the May 6 visit to Clear Lake, spinning another gem in a complete game, one-hit masterpiece. The Eagles gave Harms all the support he would need with one run in the fourth, two in the fifth, and three in the seventh in an eventual 6-0 win. Top hitters were Ojeda (3 for 4, 2B, run, 3 RBIs), Harms (3 for 4, 2B), Hibbeln (2 for 4, 2 runs, RBI), McDermott (1 for 4, run, RBI), Vega (1 for 3, run) and Kostoff (1 for 1, RBI).
Ladies gain split
The Lady Eagles began their recent stretch with a May 3 home tilt with Lower Lake, scoring in each of the first three innings to grab a 4-0 lead. With pitcher Teanne Edens (7 IP, 4 hits, 1 ER, 14 Ks) in full control, the Eagles tallied a final insurance run in the fifth on their way to a 5-1 win.
Edens also did the job with her bat, ripping two hits in as many trips, including a homer, two runs scored and three driven in. Other top hitters were Bailey Stewart (2 for 4, run), Hailey Donahoo (2 for 4, run, RBI), Jordyn Turner (1 for 3), Xochilth Saldana (1 for 3), Amber Adams (1 for 3, RBI), Bailey Creager (1 for 3, run) and Nicky Martinez (1 for 3).
Cloverdale was out to avenge a 7-1 loss to Clear Lake in April when they traveled to Lake County for Friday’s rematch. Edens locked horns with Cardinals pitcher Rachel Wingler in a classic pitcher’s duel, as the Eagles took a 1-0 lead into the sixth.
It wasn’t to be, as the Cardinals pushed across two runs in the bottom of the frame to lift them to a 2-1 win.
“We allowed them to score two runs on one hit,” CHS coach Margaret Fitzgerald reported. “We did play much better against them this time around, but we broke down defensively, which was disappointing.”
Edens (7 IP, 2 hits, 0 ERs, 12 Ks) deserved a better fate, while top hitters were Edens (2 for 3, run), Saldana (1 for 3, RBI) and Turner (1 for 2).
