Cloverdale High School baseball and softball teams continued their hot start in the opening stretch of the NCL 1 campaign, with both varsity squads scoring convincing wins.
The boys logged a busy week, kicking off the league schedule on March 26 with a 7-2 win over Clear Lake and finished with an even split in a pair of non-league outings, falling to St. Vincent (6-1) and defeating Point Arena (10-0).
“We’re off to a strong start as we continue to grow into our potential,” head coach Ben West reported. “The season thus far has been driven by strong pitching and defense, with timely hitting coming into play for us to produce some runs.”
At press time the Eagles (3-1, 1-0) were prepping for an April 3 home date with Willits, followed by road dates at Analy (April 4) and Kelseyville (April 6). Cloverdale will return home to host Fort Bragg next Tuesday, April 10. All games start at 4 p.m.
Meanwhile the Lady Eagles pushed their unbeaten season record to 3-0 and 1-0 in league with recent home and away wins over St. Vincent (4-2) and Clear Lake (9-4). This week the ladies will host Willits (April 3) and visit Kelseyville on Thursday, April 5 (4 p.m.) before hosting the annual Cloverdale Tournament on April 6-7.
Baseballers log wins
The Eagles traveled to Clear Lake for the NCL 1 opener on March 26, with starting pitching Dylan Scaramella firing three-plus innings of three-hit, two-run ball while fanning one in a winning effort.
Cloverdale was clinging to a 3-2 lead in the seventh before exploding for insurance runs to power to a 9-4 win.
Also seeing mound action for the Eagles were Collin Patterson (1.1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 3 Ks), James Wirt (1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, K) and Keller Sibert (.2 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, K). Top hitters were Scaramella (3 for 4), Patterson (2 for 4), Sibert (1 for 3, 2 runs), Kamrin Mitchell (1 for 4), Wirt (1 for 4, 2B) and Josh Lemley (1 for 4, 2B, run, 2 RBIs).
The Eagles paid St. Vincent a visit in a non-league game on March 27, with untimely errors and base-running mistakes sabotaging an otherwise solid outing. The Mustangs jumped out to an early lead and never trailed in an eventual 6-1 win. Logging pitching duty for the Eagles were Mitchell, Sibert and Tucker Morgan. Hitting safely were Wirt (2 for 3), Lemley (1 for 2), Mitchell (1 for 3), Morgan (1 for 3) and Scaramella (1 for 3).
Cloverdale played host to Point Arena in the home opener on March 29, riding the strong arm of freshman Collin Patterson (4.1 IP, hit, 4 Ks) in a 10-0 rout. The Eagles opened up a 6-0 lead and iced it with four more in the sixth before Wirt (1.2 IP, hit, 5 Ks) closed it out for the save. Leading hitters included Drew Edens (2 for 3, 2B, run, 2 RBIs), Sibert (2 for 3, run), Mitchell (1 for 3, 2 runs), Ben Paine (1 for 3, run), Patterson (1 for 3) and Wirt (1 for 2, 3 runs).
Lady Eagles soar
The varsity softballers logged a perfect week on the diamond, beginning with a March 27 non-league test against perennial power St. Vincent. The Mustangs knocked the Eagles out of the playoffs last year, but this game would belong to Cloverdale.
The Eagles erased a 2-1 deficit with three runs in the decisive third inning, and pitcher Tehya Bird (7 IP, 6 hits, 0 ERs, 10 Ks) took over from there in cruising to a 4-2 victory. Pacing the bat attack were Bird (2 for 2, HR, 2 runs, RBI), Heather Sterling (2 for 4, run), Nicky Martinez (1 for 2), Lane Hughes (1 for 4, run) and Vanessa Fisher (1 for 2).
Cloverdale opened the league schedule on March 29 at Clear Lake, taking charge in a five-run second inning and icing it with two in the seventh en route to a 7-2 win. Bird was masterful, tossing a complete-game five-hitter, yielding one earned run while fanning 10. Swinging hot bats were Bird (1 for 1, HR, 4 runs, RBI), Fisher (2 for 5, run, 2 RBIs), Alyssa Moffet (2 for 5), Martinez (1 for 2, 2 RBIs), Hughes (1 for 4, run) and Sterling (1 for 3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs).
