LAKEPORT — Robby Rowland faced the minimum 21 batters and threw a perfect game in the process Wednesday as the Cloverdale Eagles beat the Clear Lake Cardinals 2-0 in the North Central League I South opener for both teams at Lakeport.
With nearly a dozen Major League scout looking on, Rowland struck out 13 and threw only 79 pitches, 62 for strikes. He worked the count full to only two batters.
“Robby threw harder than when we saw him in Kelseyville (during a scouting trip),” Clear Lake coach Paul Larrea said. “He threw in the low 90s.”
Clear Lake”s best chance to break up the perfect game came in the bottom of the seventh when left-handed hitter Bryan Edwards lined a ball into right field. The Eagles” right fielder was swung around toward right-center and had to make a diving catch to preserve the no-hitter and perfect game. It was only one of two balls hit out of the infield by the Cardinals.
Cloverdale (1-0) managed only three hits but managed to scratch out single runs in the second and third innings against losing pitcher Ryan Richardson, who worked six effective innings, striking out three and walking four.
“Ryan pitched really well,” Larrea said. “We took him out in the seventh because he had thrown a lot of pitches.”
Cloverdale loaded the bases in the top of the seventh against Edwards but couldn”t score.
Clear Lake shortstop Tanner Mansell made a highlight-reel play in the top of the fifth on a bad-hop grounder.
“He barehanded the ball and threw the guy out in one motion,” Larrea said.
Mansell also helped snuff out Cloverdale”s budding rally in the seventh with an over-the-shoulder catch in shallow right field.
“We played very well defensively,” Larrea said.
Rowland was clocked in the low 90s most of the game but did hit 94 on one pitch.
Clear Lake (0-1, 9-4) hosts St. Vincent on Friday at 4 p.m.
