FORT BRAGG >> Trailing 4-3 going to the top of the seventh inning, the Clear Lake Cardinals scored five times in their final at-bat to upend the St. Bernard Crusaders of Eureka 8-4 in the opening round of the Fort Bragg Tournament on Friday in Fort Bragg.
The Cardinals (11-0) face Miramonte today in the semifinals at 9 a.m. If they win, they’ll play for the championship later in the day. If they lose, they’ll play for third place.
“It was a test,” Clear Lake coach Zane Jensen said of a St. Bernard team the Cardinals beat for the second time this season and could end up facing again in the North Coast Section Division V playoffs. “We haven’t been tested like that this season.”
Clear Lake scored three times in the top of the fifth to break open a scoreless game only to watch St. Bernard rally in front with a four-run sixth that chased Cardinals starter Dillon William, who allowed two unearned runs in his five-plus innings on the mound. Matt Heller relieved and allowed two more earned runs before Clear Lake got the third out.
The Cardinals wasted no time regaining the lead in the top of the seventh and it all began with a perfectly placed bunt single up the third-base line by Jake Egger.
“It was absolutely perfect and it’s something we practice all the time,” Jensen said.
Egger advanced to second on a steal before scoring on Cole Brodnansky’s second double of the game, a shot down the left-field line. Williams’ RBI single put Clear Lake ahead 5-4. Jordan Chana’s RBI single made it 6-4 and the Cardinals tacked on two more insurance runs when both Strate and Egger were hit by pitches with the bases loaded.
“Wearing the pitch is a big part of the game,” Jensen said. “We emphasize that and we did a fantastic job with it.”
Brodnansky (3-for-5) and Williams (2-for-4, 3 RBIs) combined for five of Clear Lake’s seven hits. Heller picked up the win with two innings of relief.
“We have another test tomorrow,” Jensen said of today’s meeting with Miramonte (6-4), a first-round winner over Fortuna.
In other baseball action Friday:
Tomales 10
Upper Lake 0
At Tomales, Ivan Gomez pitched a no-hitter missed a perfect game by the margin of one walk as the Tomales Braves spoiled Upper Lake’s NCL II opener.
The Cougars (0-1, 2-6) have been no-hit four times this season.
Tomales scored six times in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back during the five-inning game.
Softball
Clear Lake 8
Middletown 0
At Middletown, Rachel Wingler outdueled Renee Edwards and the Clear Lake Cardinals improved to 3-1 in the NCL I standings and 7-5 overall by shutting out the Middletown Mustangs (2-2, 7-5).
Wingler struck out 12 while limiting Middletown to just three hits. Edwards, Lake County’s strikeout leader, finished with 13 strikeouts as the Mustangs dropped their second straight in league play.
Clear Lake’s slap hitters ignited a five-run first inning and Middletown was unable to recover.
“Their first couple of hitters can slap it or bunt it, they’re real good,” Middletown coach Barry Glosser said. “We’ve got a young girl playing third base and she didn’t know if they were going to bunt it or slap the ball past her head. She really got an education today.”
“We bunted it a lot and did a good job,” Clear Lake coach Gary Pickle said. “They (Mustangs) struggled with it.”
Clear Lake picked up single runs in the second, fourth and sixth innings, not that Wingler needed the extra cushion.
“It’s the best game my pitcher and catcher (Anessia Jack) have had combined this season,” Pickle said.
Hannah Norwood, who hits first in the Clear Lake batting order, sparked the offense by going 3-for-5 and scoring three times. Aliza Atkins, Emily Psalmonds and Mina Werner added two hits apiece.
Tennis
Middletown 4
Cloverdale 1
At Cloverdale, the Middletown Mustangs improved to 5-0 in the Coastal Mountain Conference tennis standings by beating Cloverdale.
Standing in Middletown’s away of a conference title is also-undefeated St. Helena, who the Mustangs face twice next week — at home on Tuesday and on the road Friday. They also play an away match Thursday against Clear Lake.
Outside of a loss in first singles to Cloverdale’s Aidan Reynolds — Chris King fell 6-1, 6-0 — the Mustangs pretty much dominated the Eagles.
“It was a pretty solid day for the kids,” Middletown coach Vic Wroobel said.
Robert Amante rolled pass Luke Pope 6-1, 6-3 in No. 2 singles while Trevor Smith beat Everett Conway 6-1, 6-2 in No. 3 singles.
It was more of the same in No. 1 doubles as Ari Diaz and Christian Nikolov were 6-1, 6-0 winners over Pedro Sanchez and Paige Wasniak. In No. 2 doubles, Johnny Nance and G. Gonzalez rallied past Derick Rilea and Joe Mendoza 6-7 (7-5), 6-2, 7-1. Because of time constrains, a tiebreaker was played in lieu of a third set.
JV baseball
Clear Lake 5
Middletown 1
At Lakeport, Isaac Maize tossed a six-hitter and struck out five as the Clear Lake Cardinals beat the Middletown Mustangs in JV baseball action.
Max De Leon, Cody Dillsaver, Kyle Ashworth and Isaac Lewis all knocked in runs for the Cardinals, who improved to 4-2 in league and 5-3 overall. Clear Lake finished with seven hits.
Lower Lake 4
Kelseyville 1
At Lower Lake, the Lower Lake Trojans played their third straight error-free game and rode the arm of Hokulani Wickard to a league win over the Kelseyville Knights.
Wickard tossed a complete-game four-hitter, struck out eight and walked only two as Lower Lake improved to 5-0 in the NCL I standings and 7-3 overall.
Lower Lake managed just four hits of offense — two of them by Wickard — but it proved to be enough.
“Our defense and our pitching are keeping us afloat right now,” Lower Lake coach Jim Peters said. “Our defense has been spot on.”
Antonio Padilla and Jordan McGrath also hits for the Trojans, who return to action Tuesday in Middletown.
