Cougars score 22 in one inning in 25-12 victory; Knights drop 14-4 decision to Newman
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LAKEPORT >> Hitting the first three batters wasn’t the start Clear Lake High School pitcher Atiana Patino envisioned Tuesday afternoon, especially given the caliber of opponent the Cardinals found themselves up against.
In a battle of unbeaten teams, it was the visiting Sutter Huskies who dominated from the outset while handing Clear Lake a 16-3 loss that went the full seven innings. Sutter improved to 6-0 powered by a 16-hit attack while Clear Lake fell to 3-1.
Clear Lake head coach Scott Schaefers said he knew exactly the kind of team the Cardinals were up against it. That’s why he scheduled the Huskies in the first place.
“I went searching for good teams we haven’t played so we could improve ourselves,” he said. “It builds character.”
Aided by the three hit batsmen to start the game, Sutter jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Huskies added four more runs in the second and two in the third to go up 10-0. Clear Lake avoided being 10-runned by scoring three times in the bottom of the fifth, with Karsyn Greer (2-for-3, double), Amelie Davis (1-for-4) and Cali Albaum driving in runs.
Sutter added another run in the sixth and five more in the seventh.
While Patino only walked one while striking out six, she ended up hitting four Sutter batters. The Cardinals also didn’t help their cause with five errors in the field, which prolonged innings.
“Playing a very good team makes you strive for better; it teaches that you can’t be complacent,” Schaefers said. “We had a lot of girls playing out of position, but I won’t use that as an excuse. We need to play better.”
Among the bright spots were the senior Greer’s hitting and freshman Amelie Davis’ play in the field. She made her first start at shortstop and made a couple of nice stops, according to Schaefers.
“She’s a great athlete,” Schaefers said. “She’s a plug-and-play type of player; we can use her anywhere.”
Faith McIntire also had a hit for the Cardinals, who are scheduled to host Willits on Thursday.
In other softball action Tuesday:
Upper Lake 25, Willows 12
At Upper Lake, trailing 7-3 going to the bottom of the fourth, the Upper Lake Cougars’ bats came alive – boy, did they ever – during a 22-run inning that led the team to a five-inning non-league victory over the Willows Honkers.
Winning pitcher Bella Stillman was the beneficiary of the gigantic inning. She worked the first four innings, allowing four hits while striking out seven and walking six. Kylee Solorio relieved and pitched the fifth. Striking out one and walking three.
The Cougars (2-1) pounded 15 hits, including three doubles. Aubree Sperber went 3-for-3 and scored three times, Rilee Sperber went 3-for-5 with a double and RBI while scoring twice, and Ava Witter went 2-for-2 with a double, four RBIs and two runs scored. Other team leaders were Jordyn Parker (2-for-3, four runs), Addison Vipond (2-for-3, two runs), and Kyra Santos (1-for-1, RBI, four runs).
Stillman (1-for-1, double) and Alyna Solorio (1-for-1, RBI, three runs) had Upper Lake’s other hits.
“It took a couple innings for our bats to get warmed up and we had some errors on defense that we need to tighten up, but our Lady Cougars found their stride in the fourth inning to get the win.”
Upper Lake hosts Esparto on Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Cardinal Newman 14, Kelseyville 4 (5 inn.)
At Santa Rosa, Kelseyville took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the fourth before the Cardinal Newman Cardinals took control of the game with back-to-back six-run innings.
“We were ahead, hitting well, pitching well and playing great defense until the bottom of the fourth inning,” Kelseyville head coach Brittany Rumfelt said. “Unfortunately, that’s when the wheels fell off. We are showing a lot of promise offensively and defensively. We are working out preseason kinks.”
Kelseyville (0-3) grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Cardinal Newman chipped away at that deficit with single runs in the first and third.
Kelseyville’s final run came in the top of the fifth to make it 8-4. Cardinal Newman closed it out in the bottom of the inning, at which point the 10-run mercy rule came into playa.
Josie Keithly went 2-for-3 for the Knights, who finished with six hits.
“Josie Keithly hit well at that plate,” Rumfelt said.
Jordyn Wurm (1-for-3), Vanessa Reyes and AJ Wurm knocked in Kelseyville’s runs. Losing pitcher Madison Byrne, Mati Mateer and Megan Rogers had the Knights’ other hits.
Byrne allowed three hits and eight runs (two earned) in 3 2/3 innings. She struck out two and walked eight.
Kelseyville hosts Orland on Thursday at 4 p.m.