LAKEPORT — With the undisputed North Central League I South junior varsity baseball championship on the line, the Clear Lake Cardinals came through with a title-clinching 16-2 rout of the St. Helena Saints on Tuesday afternoon in Lakeport.
St. Helena took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but it was all Clear Lake after that. The Cardinals rolled out 11 runs on 10 hits in the bottom of the inning to put the game away and secure the league crown. Had Clear Lake lost the game, the Cardinals would have shared the South title with St. Helena and St. Vincent.
“This is the most selfless team I have ever coached,” Clear Lake coach Rick Moreno said. “They are like family. They pick each other up and have each other”s backs. They got hot at the right time.”
Clear Lake closes out the season at 5-1 in league and 10-5 overall. The Cardinals won their final seven games.
Winning pitcher Brandon Fenner worked all five innings, allowing five hits, striking out four and walking one. He also helped himself at the plate by going 2-for-3 with a RBI.
Clear Lake”s 16-hit attack featured a 3-for-4 day by David Mansell, who doubled and drove in five runs. Alex Andrews went 2-for-2 with a RBI, Jake Dekeyser went 2-for-3 with a RBI, and Cody Beets went 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI.
