UPPER LAKE — The Clear Lake Cardinals scored 16 runs in the first two innings before emptying their bench Friday in a 23-0 victory over the Upper Lake Cougars in North Central League I South softball action at Upper Lake.
Clear Lake (6-0 South, 15-2 overall) clinches a share of the South title with the win and can nail down the undisputed championship with a victory Tuesday at St. Helena. Upper Lake falls to 0-5 and 2-12.
Clear Lake had a 10-0 lead after one inning. The Cardinals added six more runs in the second and promptly subbed in their reserves.
“He treated me very graciously, better than Cloverdale or Willits did,” Upper Lake coach Kelly Coburn said of Clear Lake coach Gary Pickle.
“I stopped running in the first inning,” Pickle said.
Winning pitcher Emily Wingler struck out six, walked one and allowed just one hit, a solid single up the middle by Kate Irwin in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Kelsey Pearl struck out three and walked 14 in her pitching debut for Upper Lake.
“She did an awesome job,” Coburn said.
Clear Lake collected 12 hits. Heather White led the way, going 4-for-4 with four RBIs. Savannah Dekeyser added two hits and a RBI.
“Those two settled in and waited pretty good,” Pickle said of White and Dekeyser, who were among the more patient hitters in a Clear Lake lineup used to faster pitching.
Clear Lake first baseman Morgan Psalmonds made a highlight-reel over-the-shoulder catch in the bottom of the first inning to rob an Upper Lake player of a hit, according to Pickle.
“We played good defense,” Pickle said of a flawless effort in the field by the Cardinals.
