Ladies notch win, boys fall to Middletown
It was a mixed bag for Cloverdale baseball and softball teams in the league opener against visiting Middletown on March 31, as the Eagles baseball squad suffered a 6-0 shutout while the Lady Eagles notched a convincing, 12-2 win.
This week, both varsity teams resume NCL-1 action on April 5 with a road trip to Fort Bragg and return home to host Lower Lake this Friday, April 7 (4 p.m.).
Girls on a tear
The Lady Eagles (6-2, 1-0) are heating up at the right time as evidenced by their recent outings, beginning with a March 28 non-league visit to St. Mary’s in Berkeley.
Cloverdale staked ace pitcher Tehya Bird to a lead in the first inning and broke a 3-3 tie with a pair of runs in the third in an eventual 7-5 win.
Bird (7 IP, 4 hits, 5 ERs, 3 BBs, 4 Ks) notched the victory, while top hitters were Josie Marrufo (2 for 4, 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBIs), Hannah Bireschi (2 for 4, RBI), Lane Hughes (2 for 3, 2 runs, 3 RBIs) and Bird (2 for 4, 2B, 3B, 2 runs, RBI).
The Lady Eagles jumped out to a big early lead in Friday’s home clash with Middletown and Bird did the rest in a one-hit, 10 strikeout gem en route to a 12-2 win in six innings. Swinging hot bats for Cloverdale were Bird (4 for 4, 2B, HR, 3 runs, 2 RBIs), Hannah Sterling (3 for 5, 2 runs), Angelina Campos (2 for 4, run, RBI), Hughes (2 for 4, run, 4 RBIs), Marrufo (1 for 4, 2 runs) and Alma Beltran (1 for 2, RBI).
Baseballers drop two
The Eagles traveled to St. Vincent in Petaluma for a final pre-league tune-up on March 29, digging out of a 2-0 deficit in the fifth with a three-run double off the bat of Drew Edens take the lead. The Mustangs regained control with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame and hung on for an eventual 5-3 win.
Cloverdale hurler Keller Sibert pitched well in defeat, while top hitters included James Wirt (2 for 4), Edens (1 for 3, 2B, 3 RBIs), Patrick Ojeda (1 for 3), Garrett Robertson (1 for 2, 2B, run) and Anthonie Rebottaro (1 for 3, run).
The Eagles sent Nick Menzell to the hill in Friday’s league opener against Middletown, as the Mustangs struck for a combined six runs in the first three innings to grab a league they would not relinquish on their way to a 6-0 win.
Menzell took the loss while leading hitters were Edens (2 for 3) Wirt (1 for 3) and Robertson (1 for 3, 3B).