Cloverdale High School baseball and softball teams are within shouting distance of first place at the halfway point of league play, hoping to make a strong push as they enter the final phase of the regular season.
The Eagles baseball squad (10-5 overall) fell from the unbeaten ranks in an April 29 visit to Fort Bragg, falling to the Timberwolves, 7-6.
The setback, combined with a 7-5 win over visiting Middletown three days earlier, pushed Cloverdale’s league mark to 7-1, a game back of first-place Kelseyville (8-0). Rounding out the NCL-1 standings were St. Helena (4-2), Fort Bragg (4-3), Middletown (4-5), Clear Lake (4-6), Willits (1-7) and Lower Lake (0-8).
At press time the Eagles were prepping for upcoming home and away dates against Lower Lake (May 3), at Clear Lake (May 6) and at St. Helena (May 10). All games start at 4 p.m.
Cloverdale began its recent stretch in winning fashion on April 26 against visiting Middletown, exploding for seven runs in the first inning to state pitcher Chris Harms (7 IP, 10 hits, 3 ERs, 6 Ks) to an eventual 7-5 win. Top hitters included James Wirt (1 for 3, run), Harms (1 for 2, run, RBI), Jared Hibbeln (1 for 3, 2B, run, 2 RBIs), Angel Vega (1 for 2) and Kamrin Mitchell (1 for 2, run, 3 RBIs).
Cloverdale ran into a fast-starting T-Wolves squad in an April 29 visit to Fort Bragg, as the hosts set the tone with five runs in the first two frames to take command. The Eagles answered with a five-run explosion in the top of the fifth, but the T-Wolves tallied a pair in the bottom of the inning en route to a 7-6 win.
Hibbeln (2 IP, 6 hits, 4 ERs, 3 Ks) took the loss), while Michael McDermott (4 IP, 2 hits, 2 ERs, 3 Ks) earned a no-decision. Leading batters were Drew Edens (2 for 3, 2B, run, RBI), Wirt (1 for 4, 2B, 2 runs), Harms (1 for 4, run, 3 RBIs), Cole Stroh (1 for 2), Pat Ojeda (1 for 3), Mason Kostoff (1 for 2, 2 RBIs) and Vega (1 for 3, run).
Lady Eagles notch wins
The defending league champion varsity softballers continued their quest for the 2016 crown with a pair of wins last week, including home and away victories over Middletown (7-0) and Fort Bragg (16-2). On Saturday, the girls dropped a 7-3 non-league decision at Napa.
At the start of play this week the Lady Eagles (7-1, 13-2) were a game back of first-place Clear Lake (6-0), and a half-game up on Lower Lake (6-1). Rounding out the standings were Kelseyville (3-4), St. Helena (2-4), Fort Bragg (2-4), Willits (1-6) and Middletown (0-7).
This week, the team has scheduled games versus Lower Lake (May 3), at Clear Lake (May 6), and at St. Helena (May 10). All games start at 4 p.m.
The Eagles used one big inning to gain separation in their April 26 clash with visiting Middletown, pushing across five runs in the fourth in a 7-0 win. Pitcher Teanne Edens (7 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 11 Ks) was masterful in victory, while leading hitters included Hailey Donahoo (2 for 4, run), Amber Adams (2 for 4, 2 runs), Edens (1 for 3, run), Bailey Stewart (1 for 4, run, RBI), Bailey Creager (1 for 3, RBI), Heather Sterling (1 for 3, run, RBI), Nicky Martinez (1 for 2, RBI) and Jordyn Turner (1 for 4, RBI).
The girls played the rude guest in their April 29 visit to Fort Bragg, jumping all over the T-Wolves with five runs in each of the second, fourth, and fifth innings en route to a 16-2, five-inning win. Edens (5 IP, 2 hits, 1 ER, 6 Ks) earned the win, while top hitters were Edens (3 for 4, 2 runs, RBI), Adams (2 for 4, 2 2Bs, 2 runs, 3 RBIs), Stewart (2 for 4, 3B, 2 runs, 3 RBIs), Creager (2 for 2, 2B, run), Xochilth Saldana (2 for 3, 2 runs, RBI), Turner (1 for 4, HR, 2 runs, 4 RBIs), Donahoo (1 for 4, run), Sterling (1 for 3, 2 runs, RBI) and Martinez (1 for 4, 2 runs).
