FORESTVILLE — Three errors that led to four unearned runs didn”t make rookie coach Zane Jensen”s job any easier as the Clear Lake Cardinals fell 6-2 to El Molino in the varsity baseball opener for both teams Saturday in Forestville.
“We had the first-game jitters and made too many mistakes,” Clear Lake assistant coach Gary Milhaupt said.
Losing pitcher Oren Ruffcorn allowed all six El Molino runs in his 5 1/3 innings on the mound. He allowed seven hits, struck out three and walked three. Only two of the runs were earned.
Ruffcorn induced double-play grounders on three occasions that the Cardinals misplayed each time.
“Those are plays we have to make or at least get one out,” Milhaupt said.
El Molino had a 3-0 lead before Logan Kessinger broke up the shutout with a two-run single in the top of the fifth. The Lions put the game away with a three-run sixth.
Clear Lake”s other hits were a double by Ty Hagberg and a single by Cole Brodnansky.
