LOWER LAKE >> Teanne Edens is one tough customer as the Lower Lake Trojans found out … again … on Tuesday afternoon in Lower Lake.
Edens tied up Lower Lake’s offense in knots, tossing a one-hitter as the Cloverdale Eagles won 5-1 in North Central League I softball action at Lower Lake High School. It was the Trojans’ second straight home loss to another league contender following a 5-1 setback to Clear Lake on Friday. As a result, Lower Lake falls to 5-2 in league play and into third place in the standings behind Clear Lake (8-1) and Cloverdale (7-1).
The Trojans, now 13-4 overall, have one game remaining against both teams — May 12 at Cloverdale and May 15 at Lakeport — and will likely have to run the table in league play to grab some share of the NCL I championship.
It’s the first time this season the Trojans have lost back-to-back games.
“We’ve got to win out to have a shot at the title,” Lower Lake coach Chris Emberson said. “We knew we had to split with Cloverdale and Clear Lake to have a chance. We still do, but we’re going to have to regroup and hopefully get our bats going again.”
Edens carried a no-hitter into the sixth and finally lost it when Ashlynn Mock singled up the middle with two outs to score pinch-runner Jolean Scarborough from third base.
“It was a one-hopper into center field,” Emberson said of Mock’s hit, one of the few highlights for the Trojans.
“(Emma) Diener made some nice plays at second base and Mock’s defense and hitting were both pretty good … but that’s where it ends,” Emberson said of the Lower Lake highlight reel against the Eagles. “We came out flat and Shelbie (Harris) didn’t have any command early.”
Harris struck out seven and walked four. All of Cloverdale’s runs were earned. Edens struck out six and walked none although she did hit one (Mock).
“She (Edens) hit her corners and didn’t give us any free bases,” Emberson said.
There wasn’t any one area the Trojans outplayed the Eagles, the two-time defending league champions, according to Emberson.
“Basically we got beat in every aspect,” he said.
Lower Lake returns to action Thursday when it hosts Willits in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
