UKIAH >> Two costly errors in the top of the fourth inning, the only two errors committed by Clear Lake during the game, paved the way for Sonoma Valley’s 3-2 win over the Cardinals on Saturday morning in the consolation semifinal round of the Ukiah Tournament at Ukiah High School.
Clear Lake (5-5) came back later in the day to rout El Molino 16-0 in the seventh-place game.
“We played good defense overall but we’re making mistakes at the wrong time,” Clear Lake coach Gary Pickle said with an eye toward the loss to Sonoma Valley. “The errors we made allowed them to score the tying and go-ahead runs.”
Clear Lake led 2-1 after three innings. After Sonoma Valley pushed ahead with two runs in the top of the fourth, the Cardinals barely threatened during their final four at-bats. The closest they came to scoring a run was in the sixth when Shyanne Chapin walked with one out, stole second and moved up to third on a two-out wild pitch. Losing pitcher Rachel Wingler hit a grounder to shortstop and Sonoma Valley’s first baseman made a nice scoop on a throw in the dirt to end the inning and deny the Cardinals the tying run.
“It was a real nice play,” Pickle said.
The two teams combined for just five hits and Clear Lake had only two, singles by Alicia Ledesma and Hannah Norwood.
Wingler allowed one earned run, struck out five and walked one.
The Cardinals salvaged a win later in the day against El Molino, banging out 11 hits while Wingler tossed a two-hitter in the victory.
Aliza Atkins went 2-for-4 with a triple and a RBI and Destinee Garcia (1-for-4) drove in three runs for the Cardinals, who went 1-2 in the two-day tournament. They lost 8-5 to Windsor in Friday’s opening round. Lila Ogden went 2-for-2 with a double and Crystal Zepeda also had two hits for the Cardinals, who continue their up-and-down play.
“We’re having a hard team beating the good teams,” Pickle said. “We still haven’t beaten one yet. We’re playing a lot of close games, but we’re making crucial mistakes and it’s costing us every time.”
The Cardinal are off this week for spring break. They return to action a week from today at home against Kelseyville at 4 p.m.
