Cougars rout Maxwell 26-2 at home while Cardinals, Knights fall on the road
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UPPER LAKE >> Aimee Schaefers didn’t allow a hit while striking out 13 Maxwell batters as the Upper Lake Cougars pounded their way past the Panthers 26-2 in non-league varsity softball action Tuesday in Upper Lake.
“Aimee Schaefers pitched an exceptional game today and left no work for our defense,” Upper Lake head coach Janice Klier said of her junior ace.
Although she didn’t need it, Schaefers received a ton of run support as the Cougars (3-1) broke open a 4-2 game through two innings with a 13-run bottom of the third and a nine-run fourth.
Schaefers (2-for-2) helped her own cause by driving in four runs while Camila Martin and Leyla Marcks each had two hits and three RBIs. Ashlyn Rhodes doubled twice with a RBI, Portia Klier went 2-for-3 with a RBI, Ava Witter went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, and Angelina Rivera went 2-for-2 with two RBIs.
“Our Lady Cougars did a phenomenal job in the batting box,” Klier said.
The game was called after four and a half innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.
Upper Lake hosts Fort Bragg in the North Central League I opener for both teams Friday at 4 p.m..
In other softball action Tuesday:
St. Helena 15, Clear Lake 3 (5 inn.)
At St. Helena, the Clear Lake Cardinals couldn’t dig themselves out of a 6-0 hole after one inning and dropped their league opener to the two-time defending NCL I champions.
“They were clearly the better team and it showed,” Clear Lake head coach Scott Schaefers said after the Cardinals committed six errors in the field.
“Too many errors,” Schaefers said.
Clear Lake (0-1 league, 3-2 overall) chipped away at St. Helena’s lead, scoring a run in the second and two more in the third to get as close as 6-3 before the Saints pulled away with a four-run bottom of the third and a five-run fourth. The game was stopped after the Cardinals failed to score in the top of the fifth because of the 10-run mercy rule.
“We’re still learning,” Schaefers said of his young squad. “All you can do is tip your hat to them (Saints).”
St. Helena improved to 6-4 overall.
Losing pitcher Atiana Patino went 2-fo-3 while teammates Ashlynn Cruz and Karsyn Greer added two hits apiece. Cruz drove in a run. Cali Albaum went 1-for-3 with a RBI and Aniya Jauregui had Clear Lake’s other hits.
The Cardinals are off until Tuesday when they visit Upper Lake for a league game at 4 p.m.
Winters 11, Kelseyville 3
At Winters, losing pitcher Ashlyn Wurm hit a solo home run in Kelseyville’s non-league loss to the Winters Warriors (5-6).
“We played a team that had 10 games under its belt when we had one going into the game,” Kelseyville head coach Brittany Rumfelt said. “We beat ourselves defensively.”
Winters scored six times in the bottom of the fourth inning to open up a 8-1 lead.
Mati Mateer and Aubree Sperber went 1-for-3 for the Knights.
Kelseyville tries again for its first win of the season Wednesday in Orland at 4 p.m. Kelseyville lost to Orland 6-4 on March 11 in Kelseyville.
JV softball
Middletown 13, St. Helena 5
At St. Helena, Middletown scored nine times in the top of the first inning en route to a league win over the St. Helena Saints.
Hannah Tribby, Jolene Holley and Izzi Hoogendoorn all went 5-for-5 for the Mustangs (1-0 league, 3-2 overall). Hoogendoorn and Tribby both doubled and drove in two runs apiece while Holley added a RBI.
Ashlynn Thompson was the winning pitcher.
“The girls did an amazing job fielding the ball and making great plays,” Middletown head coach Kevin Thompson said. “Our first baseman, Khloe Becerril, set the energy level with a great double play in the first inning.”
Middletown hosts Willits in a non-league game Wednesday at 4 p.m.
