Cloverdale High School baseball and softball teams will start a new season this week, as both prepare for what could be strong North Coast Section playoff runs.
The Lady Eagles are riding an emotional wave after capturing their second-consecutive NCL-1 softball championship last week. Cloverdale closed out the regular season with a 7-2 win over Middletown on May 19 for a share of the league title with Clear Lake, and on Saturday pulled out a dramatic, 4-3 win over the Cardinals to claim the automatic NCS berth.
On Sunday, the ladies were awarded the fourth seed in the NCS Division-4 playoff tournament and at press time were preparing to host number-13 Healdsburg in the opener on Wednesday, May 27 (4 p.m.). Should Cloverdale win, it will advance to play the survivor of the Berean Christian-John Swett game on May 29 or 30 (date and location TBA).
The complete list of NCS Division-4 softball playoff teams in seeding order is: Marin Catholic (21-3), St. Patrick/St. Vincent (21-5), Fortuna (22-4), Cloverdale (19-4), Berean Christian (17-7-1), Moreau Catholic (13-10), Cardinal Newman (11-8), Lower Lake (18-6), St. Mary’s (12-10), Justin Siena (10-13), Middletown (11-11), John Swett (11-7), Healdsburg (6-13) and Livermore Valley Charter Prep (17-4).
Meanwhile the varsity baseball Eagles are alive and well after landing the 10th seed in the NCS Division-4 tournament, and will visit number-seven El Molino in the opener on May 27 (4 p.m.). If the Eagles advance, they will play the winner of the Justin Siena-Kelseyville game on May 29 or 30.
The list of NCS Division-4 baseball teams in order of seeding is: St. Mary’s (17-7), Justin Siena (13-10), Salesian (18-5), Arcata (18-9), Moreau Catholic (11-13), St. Patrick/St. Vincent (9-10), El Molino (14-10), Lick Wilmerding (17-9), Fortuna (13-10), Cloverdale (15-9), Berean Christian (10-14), Piedmont (14-12), John Swett (11-13), Willits (11-8), Kelseyville (11-13) and McKinleyville (9-15).
Ladies claim crown
The defending champion Eagles needed a win over visiting Middletown on May 19 for a title repeat, and they did just that in convincing style. Cloverdale staked ace pitcher Teanne Edens to a 4-0 lead after three innings, and iced the contest with a two-run sixth en route to a 7-2 win.
Edens (7 IP, 3 hits, 2 ERs, 15 Ks) notched the victory with her arm and bat, ripping two homers in as many trips with two runs scored and three batted in. Other top hitters were Josie Marrufo (2 for 3, 2 runs), Jordyn Turner (2 for 3, 2B, run, RBI), Sierra Morse (1 for 3) and Monica Lemley (1 for 4, 2B, RBI).
The ladies traveled to Clear Lake in Saturday’s clash for the automatic NCS berth, and the game did not disappoint. Edens locked horns with Cardinals ace Rachel Wingler in a tense duel, as Clear Lake clung to a 1-0 lead after four. The Eagles answered with a four-run uprising in the decisive fifth inning, and then survived a two-run Cardinals rally in the seventh inning. Â
In a dramatic finish, Marrufo gunned down the potential tying run from the outfield for the final out of the game to secure a 4-3 win.
Edens (7 IP, 5 hits, 2 ERs, 9 Ks) earned her 19th win of the season, while leading hitters were Lemley (2 for 4, 2B, run), Marrufo (2 for 2, run), Bailey Stewart (2 for 4, run, RBI), Edens (1 for 4, RBI) and Turner (1 for 3, run, RBI).
