PETALUMA — The Clear Lake Cardinals opened up a 9-1 lead after two innings and cruised past the St. Vincent Mustangs 13-3 in a five-inning North Central League I South softball game on Tuesday in Petaluma.
Clear Lake (5-0 South, 14-2 overall) took a giant step toward winning another league crown behind a 12-hit attack that featured five doubles — two each by Heather White (3-for-4, 2 RBIs) and winning pitcher Emily Wingler (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) — and a triple by Savannah Dekeyser (1-for-2, 2 RBIs).
“We got them on their heels right away,” Clear Lake coach Gary Pickle said of the Mustangs.
Ahead 4-1 after one inning, the Cardinals struck for five more runs in the second.
Wingler allowed just four hits and two earned runs. She struck out four and walked one.
“Emily”s kind of stepped up her game since the middle of the Cloverdale game (a 17-16 eight-inning victory last Thursday in Lakeport). She”s throwing the ball pretty well right now.”
The Cardinals made just one error and had some solid glove work in the field, especially from third baseman Vanessa Tullos, according to Pickle.
“She made some nice stops,” Pickle said.
Both of Wingler”s doubles just missed being home runs, striking the fence. Dekeyser”s triple also ricocheted off the fence.
Clear Lake plays St. Helena and Upper Lake (0-5) twice in its final three league games. Wins in two of those three games will secure the undisputed South championship.
