LAKEPORT — Joey Blair”s pitching gem powered Clear Lake High School to an 8-3 win over John Swett of Crockett in the first game of a non-league varsity baseball doubleheader on Saturday in Lakeport.
John Swett came back to win game two 9-6.
Blair tossed a three-hitter in the opener, striking out seven, walking one and allowing only one earned run.
“He had great command of all his pitches,” Clear Lake assistant coach Gary Milhaupt said of Blair”s first win of the season.
Blair spotted John Swett a 1-0 lead in the top of the third but Clear Lake (3-3) pushed ahead to stay with three runs in the bottom of the inning.
Logan Kessinger went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI to spark the Cardinals at the plate. Chad Elliston went 1-for-2 with a double and a RBI and Steven Edwards went 1-for-1 with a triple and two RBI.
In the second game, John Swett snapped a 4-4 tie with five runs in the top of the fifth inning, only two of which were earned. Though the Cardinals out-hit John Swett 10-8, they also made the game”s only three errors, which proved costly.
“We had a hard time playing catch,” Milhaupt said.
Stone Phillips went 3-for-4 with a triple and a RBI to lead Clear Lake”s offense and Elliston went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Kessinger and Edwards also drove in runs.
“Overall we hit the ball well in both games,” Milhaupt said.
John Swett coach Allen Ressler Sr. wasn”t around to see the end of the game two as he was ejected for arguing balls and strikes and unsportsmanlike conduct by home plate umpire Kevin Henderson. Ressler”s son, Allen Jr., was the winning pitcher.
Weather permitting, Clear Lake is scheduled to play Healdsburg tonight at Recreation Park beginning at 6 p.m. The Cardinals return home Saturday to take on McKinleyville at 4 p.m.
