LAKEPORT — Winning pitcher Kelcie Reynolds tossed a one-hitter and also homered as the Clear Lake Cardinals beat the St. Helena Saints 19-0 in a five-inning North Central League I softball game on Monday in St. Helena.
The Cardinals are 12-0 in league play with two games remaining — today at Kelseyville and Thursday at home against Cloverdale — and 17-2 overall. They can clinch no worse than a league co-championship with a road win today against the Knights.
Reynolds made her first start of the season and allowed just a second-inning bloop single to Wynonna Rivera. The two-out hit fell between three Clear Lake players in shallow center field. Reynolds struck out three and walked three — all three walks going to St. Helena”s Holle DePina.
Regular starting pitcher Emily Wingler, who was sick over the weekend, could have started the game, according to Clear Lake coach Gary Pickle.
“She told me she was ready to go,” Pickle said. “I would have used her if I had needed her.”
Wingler did appear in Monday”s game as Clear Lake”s designated hitter and went 1-for-3 with a RBI.
Clear Lake built a 7-0 lead in the first two innings before unloading a 10-spot on the Saints (1-12) in the bottom of the third. Reynolds hit a two-run home off the top of the fence in left field and Tullos also homered in the inning, a mammoth two-run shot that landed on the hill behind the left-field fence.
“It was a good 30 feet behind the fence,” Pickle said.
Five of Clear Lake”s 19 hits went to one player, first baseman Morgan Psalmonds, who went 5-for-5 with two triples and two RBI. Savannah Dekeyser (2-for-2) also tripled and had two RBI.
The Cardinals didn”t commit an error behind Reynolds, who normally starts at catcher. Replacing her behind the plate was Valerie Strate.
“She did a really nice job of catching,” Pickle said.
