Lady Eagles earn #1 seed, boys seeded 7th in Division 5
The all-important final phase of the 2018 season is here for Cloverdale High School softball and baseball teams, as they take the field in their respective North Coast Section playoff tournaments this week.
The NCL 1 champion Eagle’s softball squad garnered the ultimate respect at Sunday’s NCS seeding meeting, landing the top seed in the Division 5 tourney. The Eagles (13-1, 16-1) drew a first-round bye and will host the winner of the #8 St. Bernard’s versus #9 University game this Friday, May 25 at 5 p.m. Should Cloverdale advance as expected, it will host the tourney semifinal contest on May 29 or 30.
The Lady Eagles wrapped up a championship league campaign on May 17 against visiting Fort Bragg, avenging their lone season loss with a 4-2 win. Tehya Bird (7 IP, 5 hits, 1 ER, 7 Ks) notched her 16th “W” while top hitters were Nicky Martinez (1 for 3, HR, run, RBI), Bird (1 for 2, 2B, run), Vanessa Fisher (1 for 3, 2B, 3 RBIs), Heather Sterling (1 for 3, run) and Janaye Hammond (1 for 3).
Two days earlier the Eagles clinched the title in exciting fashion with a tense 12-8 squeaker at Lower Lake, breaking a 5-5 tie with a seven-run explosion in the eighth to pull out a 12-7 victory. Bird (8 IP, 7 hits, 4 ERs, 7 Ks) earned the win while hitting leaders included Fisher (2 for 4, 2B, run, 2 RBIs), Alma Beltran (2 for 4), Lane Hughes (2 for 4, 2 RBIs), Hammond (1 for 4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs), Sterling (1 for 5, 3 runs) and Alyssa Moffet (1 for 2, 2 runs, RBI).
Baseballers finish strong
The varsity baseball Eagles are also gearing up for a protracted postseason run after being awarded the #7 seed in the 16-team Division 5 tourney. At press time Cloverdale (9-5, 13-7) was prepping for a first-round home game against #10 Clear Lake on May 22, with the survivor advancing to face the winner of #2 Branson versus #15 Head-Royce on May 25.
The Cardinals are no stranger to the Eagles, with the league rivals trading wins in during the regular season.
Cloverdale wrapped up a strong league campaign on May 15 at Lower Lake, jumping all over the host Trojans in a 12-0 romp. Junior right-hander Drew Edens went the distance for Cloverdale, firing seven innings of two-hit ball while fanning seven in a great outing. Pacing the Eagles’ offensive attack were Keller Sibert (3 for 5, 2B, 3 runs, RBI), Dylan Scaramella (2 for 4, run, RBI), Ben Paine (2 for 5, 2 runs, RBI), Collin Patterson (2 for 5, 3B, run, 2 RBIs), BJ Grady (1 for 2, run, RBI), Edens (1 for 3, 2 runs, RBI and Kamrin Mitchell (1 for 4, 3 RBIs).
