Clear Lake back on road Thursday, Friday to play Upper Lake, Lower Lake
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CLOVERDALE >> Giving starting pitcher Atiana Patino a break because of a four-game schedule this week, the Clear Lake Cardinals fell 14-1 in five innings to the Cloverdale Eagles on Wednesday afternoon during North Central League I softball action in Cloverdale.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that Clear Lake, now 3-6 in league play and 7-7 overall, has five winnable games remaining on its league schedule, including Thursday’s road contest in Upper Lake. In fact, the Cardinals play Upper Lake twice, Lower Lake twice and Middletown to close out their league schedule.
“We know where we’re at in our softball life,” Clear Lake head coach Scott Schaefers said. “I’m still looking to make it,” he added of the upcoming North Coast Section Division 5 playoffs.
The Cardinals don’t have to win all five of their remaining league games to become postseason eligible, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt their chances. Lower Lake recently lost ace Mariah Bal, who quit the team earlier this week, so the Trojans, while 6-5 in league, aren’t going to have an easy time of it without their star pitcher and slugger. Upper Lake (2-7) and Middletown (2-10) are currently sitting seventh and eighth in the NCL I standings.
Clear Lake started Cali Albaum against Cloverdale and the Eagles (9-2, 17-2) rocked her for 10 runs in the first inning, parlaying three hits and eight walks into a huge inning. Patino ended up pitching two innings before giving way to Kam Cresto.
Cloverdale pitchers Charlotte Burchett and Camryn Bird combined on a two-hitter, and it was Patino (2-for-2) who had both of those hits.
Clear Lake remains on the road Friday to play Lower Lake. Next week, the Cardinals are home Tuesday against Middletown, Thursday against Upper Lake and Friday against Lower Lake.