SANTA ROSA >> Coming off their worst game of the season, the Clear Lake Cardinals answered with their best game, pounding the Piner Prospectors 16-0 in a five-inning non-league softball game at Santa Rosa.
Clear Lake (2-2) dropped a 13-3 decision in six innings to Ukiah on Tuesday in Ukiah, the worst loss for the Cardinals in six years. Against Piner, they banged out a season-best 19 hits, all singles.
“Today is a good step for the team in many ways,” Clear Lake coach Gary Pickle said.
Pickle said he able to correct some mechanical flaws, both by his pitcher, Rachel Wingler, and his batters that were discovered on game film.
“I probably should have picked up on some of that but the film doesn’t lie,” Pickle said.
Wingler responded by throwing a two-hitter with five strikeouts and only one walk. She worked out of her only jam in the bottom of the first when Piner had runners at second and third with no outs.
“Their first batter tripled down the line and I thought, ‘Here we go again,’” Pickle said.
Wingler followed the hit by issuing her only base on balls. After a steal put runners at second and third, the junior wiggled out of trouble by getting a liner to second base, a strikeout and a grounder to second.
Piner’s only other hit was a leadoff single in the fourth.
Wingler’s big day carried over to the plate as well. She went 5-for-5, drove in four runs and scored twice. Senior shortstop Aliza Atkins added four more hits and senior first baseman Desiree Garcia went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. She also made one of the hardest outs of the day during a nine-pitch at-bat in the top of the fourth, hitting a rocket off the glove of the Piner pitcher. The ball ricocheted to the first baseman who recorded the out.
Hannah Norwood also had two hits and a RBI for the Cardinals.
“It was good to get this one,” Pickle said of the lopsided victory. “The girls were in a bit of a funk and it feels good to win a game like this.”
Nine different Cardinals had at least one hit.
“We played good all the way around today,” Pickle added. “We needed to.”
Clear Lake scrimmages Montgomery High School on Saturday in Santa Rosa before returning to Lakeport on Tuesday for its first home game against El Molino at 4 p.m.
