Softballers closing in on NCL1 championship

It’s been said many times that the only thing tougher than winning a championship is defending one.
That hasn’t been the case for the defending league and NCS softball champion Eagles heading into the final stretch of the regular season, boasting a perfect 10-0 record and two-game lead over second place Clear Lake with four games left on the schedule.
Cloverdale ran its season record to 19-0 with another four wins, including three in the weekend Arcata Tournament to capture the first-place trophy.
The Eagles will resume league action on April 30 (after press time) against visiting Middletown, followed by home dates with Fort Bragg (May 2) and St. Helena (May 3).  Cloverdale will close out the NCL1 season on May 7 against visiting Lower Lake. All games start at 4 p.m.
Eagles stay unbeaten  
The ladies began their latest stretch with an April 23 visit to Kelseyville, jumping all over the Knights in a 13-1 rout in five innings. Tehya Bird (5 IP, 4 hits, ER, 10 Ks) notched the victory, while leading hitters were Bird (3 for 3, HR, 3 runs, 3 RBIs), Heather Sterling (2 for 3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs), Lane Hughes (1 for 4, HR, run, 2 RBIs), Janaye Hammond (1 for 4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs), Faith Holloman (1 for 1, RBI) and Maci Hernandez (1 for 2, run, RBI).
The Eagles hit the road for the Arcata tourney on April 26 and 27, scoring wins over Fortuna (12-1), Del Norte (10-2) and Arcata (4-1) to hoist the championships trophy.      
Earning all-tourney honors for Cloverdale were Bird, Hughes and Sterling. Bird enjoyed a sensational week, hitting safely in all eight official plate appearances, with two doubles, two home runs, seven runs batted in, eight walks and 13 runs scored.  She also logged four wins on the mound and struck out 40 batters.