Cloverdale to host Kelseyville Friday
It was a mixed bag for Cloverdale High School varsity baseball and softball teams last week, with one team retaining the top spot in league, while the other fell from the ranks of the unbeaten.
The varsity baseball Eagles ran their NCL-1 record to a perfect 5-0 with hard-fought wins over Clear Lake (10-8) and St. Helena (9-7) to stay in a tie with Kelseyville for the league lead.
Rounding out the standings were Middletown (3-2), St. Helena (2-2), Fort Bragg (2-2), Clear Lake (2-3), Willits (0-5) and Lower Lake (0-5).
At press time Cloverdale (8-4 overall) was preparing to visit Willits in an April 19 clash, followed by a home showdown with Kelseyville this Friday, April 22 at City Park. The Eagles will host Middletown next Tuesday, April 26. All games start at 4 p.m.
Meanwhile the Lady Eagles (9-1, 4-1) weathered their first loss of the 2016 campaign on April 12 against visiting Clear Lake, dropping a 7-1 decision. Cloverdale bounced back on Friday with a 10-0 drubbing over St. Helena.
At the start of play this week the girls trailed first-place Clear Lake (5-0) by one game, followed by Lower Lake (3-1), Fort Bragg (2-2), Kelseyville (2-3), Willits (1-3), St. Helena (1-3) and Middletown (0-4).
This week the Lady Eagles have scheduled games at Willits (April 19) and home against Kelseyville on Friday, April 22 (4 p.m.). Cloverdale will entertain Redwood Christian in a non-league tilt this Saturday, April 23 at 12 noon.
The April 12 clash with visiting Clear Lake was somewhat disappointing from a local standpoint, as the Cardinals struck with three runs in the opening frame. The visitors led 5-0 before the Eagles clawed back with their lone run of the game in the fourth en route to a 7-1 loss.
“We were outplayed on this day, but I’m sure we’ll bounce back when we play them again,” CHS head coach Margaret Fitzgerald said.
Ace pitcher Teanne Edens (2.1 IP, 5 hits, 5 ERs, 3 Ks) took the loss while freshman Sydney Hage (4.2 IP, 3 hits, 2 ERs, 5 Ks) closed it out. Leading hitters were Jordyn Turner (2 for 3, run), Celeste Gastineau (1 for 2), Hage (1 for 3), Heather Sterling (1 for 3), Amber Adams (1 for 3) and Bailey Creager (1 for 3).
The Eagles made short work of traveling St. Helena on April 15, pushing across six runs in the fourth inning to force an early stoppage after five innings in a 10- shutout. Edens (5 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 11 Ks) was back in top form, while top hitters were Bailey Stewart (2 for 4, run, RBI), Xochilth Saldana (2 for 2), Edens (1 for 3, HR, run, 3 RBIs), Creager (1 for 2, 2 runs, RBI) and Hage (1 for 2, run).
Horsehiders win a pair
The varsity baseballers continued to pound the ball with ferocity last week, beginning with an April 12 slugfest with visiting Clear Lake.
Cloverdale staked winning pitcher Chris Harms (3 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 3 Ks) to an 8-0 lead after three, before turning it over to relievers Drew Edens (1.1 IP, 2 hits, 1 ER, 2 Ks), Nick Menzell (2.1 IP, 4 hits, 3 ERs, K), James Wirt (.1 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs) and Jared Hibbeln (.1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, K) in mop-up duty.
Pacing the bat attack were Jeff Persons (3 for 4, run, RBI), Hibbeln (2 for 3, 2 runs, RBI), Angel Vega (2 for 4, RBI), Harms (2 for 2, run, RBI), Wirt (1 for 5, 2B, 2 runs), Pat Ojeda (1 for 3, run), Edens (1 for 4, run, 2 RBIs) and Kamrin Mitchell (1 for 4, run).
Cloverdale was locked in another wild one on Friday against St. Helena, as the Eagles jumped out to a 9-2 lead after five before holding off a late Saints rally in a 9-7 win.
Harms (6.1 IP, 10 hits, 4 ERs, 13 Ks) was impressive in victory, while Hibbeln (.2 IP, 1 hit, 0 ERs) closed it out for the save. Top hitters were Ojeda (2 for 4, 2 runs, RBI), Menzell (2 for 3, 3 RBIs), Persons (2 for 3, 3 RBIs), Wirt (1 for 4, 2 runs), Harms (1 for 4, run), Edens (1 for 4, run), Hibbeln (1 for 4, RBI), Vega (1 for 2, run) and Mitchell (1 for 3, 2 runs, RBI).
