Pitcher Chris Harms fires no-hitter
The Cloverdale JV baseball team kept its unbeaten streak alive on Friday, notching a 10-0 win at Kelseyville in the NCL-1 opener.
The Eagles rode the strong arm of ace pitcher Chris Harms, who throttled the Kelseyville line-up in a no-hit, no-run gem. Harms went the distance and struck out a season-high nine batters en route to the first no-no of the season.
The string of impressive wins and outstanding start had Eagles coach Corey Harms singing the praises of both his team and its many supporters.
“It’s been a great effort from the entire team to start the season 7-0,” Harms said. “Box scores don’t always show the effort and chemistry of the entire team, from starters, to the bench, and the parents that come out to support the team.”
The win in the league opener came on the heels of a tremendous showing in the Lee Walker Tournament hosted by El Molino during Spring Break, as Cloverdale won all three games to take home the first place trophy.
At press time the Eagles (7-0, 1-0) were preparing to start a five-game home-stand beginning on Apr. 1 (weather permitting) against Willits, followed by a meeting with visiting Lower Lake this Friday, Apr. 4. Cloverdale will host Middletown next Tuesday, Apr. 8. All games start at 4 p.m.
Eagles blank Kelseyville
It was the Chris Harms show in the March 28 league opener at Kelseyville, as the ace hurler took command from the opening frame. The Eagles drew blood with a pair of runs in their first at-bat, and busted it wide open with an eight-run explosion in the fifth inning. It was more than enough runs for Harms, who put up zeroes the rest of the way en route to a 10-0, six-inning win.
Top hitters included Angel Vega (1 for 3, 2 RBIs), Jared Hibbeln (2 for 4, 2 RBIs), Harms (3 for 4, 2 RBIs), Cole Stroh (2 for 3, 2 RBIs), Michael McDermott (1 for 4, 2 RBIs), and Travis Kitowski (1 for 2).
Eagles host tourney trophy
One of the season highlights to date was no doubt the Eagle’s great performance at the Lee Walker Tournament played on Mar-18-22, as Cloverdale posted wins over Willits (9-5), Middletown (9-4) and Healdsburg (14-7).
McDermott was the winning pitcher in the tourney opener against Willits, with Jared Hibbeln closing it out in relief. Leading the Cloverdale hitting corps were Vega (1 for 2, RBI), Logan Spain (1 for 1, 2 RBIs), Pat Ojeda (1 for 2, RBI), Chris Harms (1 for 3), Kitowski (1 for 3, RBI), McDermott (1 for 3, RBI), and Mason Kostoff (1 for 2, RBI).
Harms earned the win in the 9-4 Mar. 21 victory over Middletown, as Hibbeln came on to close it out late. Pacing the offense were Hibbeln (1 for 2, RBI), Ojeda (3 for 4, RBI), Harms (3 for 3, 4 RBIs), and McDermott (2 for 4, 3 RBIs).
McDermott notched the victory with help from relievers Hibbeln and Ojeda in the Lee Walker title game against Healdsburg on Mar. 22. The Eagles weathered a formidable Healdsburg line-up to finally wrestle away momentum and the game, 14-7. The see-saw battle featured six lead changes before Cloverdale finally put it away with a late rally.
Pacing the bat attack were Vega (1 for 3), Mason Meier (3 for 4, 3 RBIs), Hibbeln (4 for 4, 5 RBIs), Ojeda (1 for 4, 4 RBIs), Harms (1 for 4, RBI), Stroh (1 for 5), and Spain (1 for 3).
Hibbeln garnered team MVP honors, while Ojeda, McDermott, Harms, and Vega earned All-Tournament recognition.
