Clear Lake softball scores four times in bottom of the seventh to pull out league victory
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LAKEPORT >> After Fort Bragg scored three times in the top of the seventh inning to take a 7-4 lead, Clear Lake High School softball coach Scott Schaefers figured there was no reason his Cardinals couldn’t repeat what they had done in the first inning against the Timberwolves Thursday afternoon, which was score four runs.
“I told them to keep their heads up and said, ‘We scored four runs in the first inning against them, so let’s do it again in the seventh,’” Schaefers said.
Clear Lake took Schaefers’ words to heart, rallying for four runs in the bottom of the seventh to stun the Fort Bragg Timberwolves 8-7 in North Central League I action at Lakeport.
Karsyn Greer opened the inning with a double, bases-loaded RBI singles by Lindee Bingham (3-for-4) and Kam Cresto (1-for-4) closed the gap, an RBI groundout by Hailey Perez, which was the second out of the inning, tied the score at 7-7, and Bingham scored on a wild pitch to win it.
Bingham stopped in the basepath just before reaching the plate before continuing on and scoring the winning run.
“I have no idea why she stopped,” Schaefers said. “I asked her and she didn’t know why. People were saying what it great game it was, but it nearly gave me a heart attack.”
Both teams wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Fort Bragg scored twice in the top of the first before Clear Lake answered with four runs in the bottom half. The Timberwolves (1-1 league, 3-3 overall) pulled even with a two-run third.
“I am proud of the girls for stepping up,” Schaefers said. “We were able to pull it out and win it.”
Clear Lake (1-1, 4-2) received a strong seven innings from winning pitcher Atiana Patino, who allowed just one earned run while striking out six and walking two. She scattered seven hits.
Faith McIntire went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Cardinals, who banged out 10 hits. Ashlynn Cruz also went 2-for-4 while Cali Albaum went 1-for-2 and scored twice.
Clear Lake was minus two of its starting outfielders who are participating in another sport.
“I had to start freshmen,” Schaefers said. “We had a very young lineup out there.”
The Cardinals return to action Tuesday at home against Cloverdale. Clear Lake is still in the process of rescheduling a rainout with Upper Lake.
In other NCL I softball action Thursday:
St. Helena 12, Kelseyville 2 (5 inn.)
At Kelseyville, once again minus a handful of starters who are involved in another sport, the Kelseyville Knights fell to two-time defending league champion St. Helena in five innings.
The Saints (3-0, 8-4) scored in every inning and built a 9-0 lead before Kelseyville pushed its first run across the plate in the bottom of the fourth.
“It was tough with only nine that could start against the No. 1 team in the league,” Kelseyville head coach Brittany Rumfelt said.
Nine of St. Helena’s 15 hits against two Kelseyville pitchers went for extra points – eight doubles as well as a solo home run off the bat of Alexis Lund (2-for-4), who also doubled. Emily Glakeler led the Saints by going 4-for-4 with two doubles and RBIs. Tahlia Smith and Ada Blanton each had three hits.
Kelseyville’s five hits went to Kylee Denham (2-for-2), Jordyn Wurm, Ashlyn Wurm and losing pitcher Morgan Rogers, who worked the first three innings, allowing seven runs (three earned) while striking out two and walking two. Ashlyn Wurm finished up.
“There was great potential shown by our up-and-coming leaders,” Rumfelt said.
The Knights (0-2, 0-6) will again try for that elusive first win of the season on Tuesday at Upper Lake.
