LAKEPORT — The only thing better than a double play is a triple play and the Clear Lake Cardinals had one of each on Tuesday while beating the St. Helena Saints 11-5 in a North Central League I South varsity baseball game in Lakeport.
Clear Lake (2-2, 11-6-1) was protecting an 8-5 lead and St. Helena was threatening in the top of the fourth inning with runners at first and third and no outs when a Saints batter lofted a fly ball into right field. Corey Dillon caught it for the first out, threw out a runner at home plate for the second out, catcher Aaron Marshall applying the tag, and Marshall”s throw to third baseman Christian Coddington completed the triple killing (the runner at first had tagged up and gone to second and was trying to advance to third on the play).
“You won”t see that very often,” Larrea said of a 9-2-5 triple play.
Winning pitcher Ryan Hansford worked all seven innings for the victory, scattering six hits, striking out six and walking two.
“Ryan Hansford pitched great,” Clear Lake coach Paul Larrea said.
Ryan Richardson (2-for-4) sparked the offense with a three-run home run in the bottom of the first.
Middletown 10, Lower Lake 0
At Lower Lake, Devin Nordin tossed a three-hitter and struck out eight as the Middletown Mustangs evened their NCL I North record at 2-2 by beating the Lower Lake Trojans in a game called after five innings because of the 10-run rule.
It was only a 1-0 game going to the top of the fifth, but the Mustangs erupted for nine runs. The big blow was a bases-loaded double by Johnny Harmyk that drove in two runs.
“It missed being a grand slam by about five feet,” Middletown coach Mitch Tucker said.
“The wheels started to fall off after that,” Lower Lake coach Chris Emberson said.
Lower Lake (0-4, 3-13) nearly got the game into the sixth inning, but Nordin gloved a hard liner off the bat of Jesus Fonseca with a runner at third base in the bottom of the fifth to end the game.
Eddie Sears doubled for one of Lower Lake”s three hits. Kyle Harmyk drove in two runs for Middletown.
Cloverdale 18, Upper Lake 2
At Upper Lake, the Cloverdale Eagles scored nine times in the top of the first inning and rolled past the Upper Lake Cougars in NCL I South action.
The bases were empty with two outs in the first when the Cloverdale rally began, according to Upper Lake coach Greg Smith.
A bloop single that fell between three Upper Lake players opened the door, according to Smith.
“We just kind of fell apart after that,” Smith said.
Lance McCloud went 1-for-2, scored a run and stole two bases for Upper Lake (0-3, 3-12).
Cloverdale completes the first half of its South schedule at 4-0.
