Baseballers capture El Molino tourney, ladies take third on the diamond
It was a great week on the high school diamond for Cloverdale softball and baseball teams, with both Eagles squads enjoying success in local tournaments.
The varsity baseball Eagles were crowned champions at the Lee Walker Invitational tourney hosted by El Molino on March 20-21, recording wins over Del Norte (5-0), and Middletown (6-2). The boys began the week with a 4-2 road win over College Prep.
Cloverdale (6-3) will open the NCL-1 schedule on March 24 (after press time) against Clear Lake, and host Kelseyville this Friday, March 27 (City Park). The Eagles will visit Willits next Tuesday, March 31. All games start at 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Lady Eagles softballers (4-1) claimed three wins in four outings, starting with a 7-6 victory over Windsor on March 18. The ladies hosted the annual Cloverdale Softball Tournament on March 20-21, sandwiching a 4-2 loss to eventual champion Marin Catholic with wins over St. Mary’s (8-2) and Berean Christian (10-9, 9 innings).
The Eagles will open league play at home this week against Clear Lake (March 24) and Thursday, March 26 against Kelseyville (4 p.m.) Â
Eagles on a roll
Cloverdale traveled to College Prep on March 17, making the most of a complete-game pitching effort from Greg Scaramella in a 4-2 win. Scaramella yielded five hits and two earned runs while fanning three in a sparkling performance. Top hitters were Pat Ojeda (1 for 3, 3B, run), David Watson (1 for 4, run), Jon Alvarez (1 for 3) and Michael McDermott (1 for 1, 2B). Â
The Eagles rode the strong arm of starter Chris Harms in the March 20 meeting with Del Norte in the Lee Walker tourney, as the hard-throwing righty was masterful in firing a complete-game, eight-strikeout five-hitter. Cloverdale pushed across a pair of runs in the fourth and sixth innings en route to a 5-0 shutout win. Pacing the offensive attack were Jared Hibbeln (3 for 4, 2 runs), McDermott (1 for 3), Angel Vega (1 for 4), Mason Meier (1 for 1, run), Scott Richardson (1 for 4 and Harms (1 for 4, run).
The Eagles squared off with Middletown for the Walker tourney championship, as McDermott (7 IP, 4 hits, 2 ERs, 3 Ks) climbed the hill in yet another outstanding iron-man performance. Cloverdale erased an early 2-0 deficit with a four-run uprising in the third, giving their pitcher all he’d need in an eventual, 6-2 win.
Top swingers for the Eagles were Harms (1 for 2, run), Watson (1 for 1, 2 RBIs), Hibbeln (1 for 4, run), McDermott (1 for 3, run) Scaramella and Richardson each drove in a run for Cloverdale.
Softballers notch wins  Â
The Lady Eagles kicked off a busy week on March 18 against visiting Windsor. Junior hurler Teanne Edens (7 IP, 9 hits, 4 ERs, 4 Ks) was every bit the ace through the first five innings as Cloverdale built a 7-1 lead. The Eagles had a few tense moments in the final frame as the Jaguars rallied for five runs before Edens slammed the door in a 7-6 win.  Top hitters were Monica Lemley (3 for 4, 2B, 2 runs), Jordyn Turner (2 for 3, 2B, 2 runs, 3 RBIs), Bailey Creager (2 for 3, 2B, run, 2 RBIs) and Bailey Stewart (1 for 4, 2 runs, RBI).
Cloverdale took on a solid St. Mary’s squad in the tournament opener on March 20, as Edens turned in a stellar complete-game, four-hit, eight-strikeout effort in an 8-2 win. Swinging hot bats for the Eagles were Edens (3 for 4), Lemley (2 for 5, 2B, 2 RBIs), Stewart (2 for 5, RBI), and Creager (2 for 4, RBI).
The Eagles faced a strong Marin Catholic team in round two of the Cloverdale tourney on March 21, as Edens (7 IP, 5 hits, 2 ERs, 7 Ks) locked horns with Wildcat’s starter Carly Stack in a great pitcher’s duel.
The ‘Cats led 3-0 before the Eagles rallied for a pair of fifth-inning runs to make it interesting, but Marin Catholic held on for a 4-2 win. Leading hitters were Josie Marrufo (1 for 2, run), Amber Adams (1 for 3, 2 RBIs) and Stewart (1 for 4).
The tournament finale against Berean Christian was a offensive barnburner, as the teams combined for 28 hits and 19 runs in a nine-inning, 10-9 Cloverdale win.
Edens survived to notch the win, while top Eagles batters included Lemley (5 for 5, 2B), Creager (3 for 5, 5 RBIs), Stewart (2 for 5) and Sierra Morse (2 for 3, 3 RBIs).
