LAKE COUNTY >> It’s just a matter of days, weather permitting, before the 2016 high school spring sports season in Lake County begins blooming like so many wildflowers in the area.
Baseball, softball, tennis, track and field, golf and swim teams began practicing two weeks ago as they prepare for their openers. For the county’s baseball and softball squads, those first games are less than a week away in some instances.
In varsity baseball action, Middletown has a scheduled non-league opener Tuesday at home against Santa Rosa, Upper Lake visits Lower Lake on Thursday, and the Kelseyville and Clear Lake squads scrimmage on Sept. 27 at Lloyd Larson Field in Kelseyville.
In varsity softball action, Upper Lake visits Healdsburg, Clear Lake hosts Piner, Middletown travels to American Canyon while Lower Lake visits Pierce on March 1.
Another early starter is Middletown tennis at home Thursday against Sonoma Academy.
Clear Lake softball opens the new season with a new coach for the first time since 1993 as Doug Wingler replaces Gary Pickle, who retired after the Cardinals’ win over St. Joseph Notre Dame of Alameda in the North Coast Section Division V championship game last June in Lakeport. Wingler was an assistant under Pickle in previous seasons. His daughter Rachel, a senior, is the Cardinals’ starting pitcher.
Both Clear Lake teams won North Central League I championships in 2015, the varsity baseball squad winning its first 26 games before finally losing in the semifinal round of the section playoffs. While the softball team returns nearly its entire roster intact, the varsity baseball team graduated the bulk of its roster.
Another new wrinkle this year is Upper Lake is fielding a junior varsity baseball team.
All of the county’s spring sports coaches are encouraged to report the results of their games/matches/meets to the Record-Bee sports desk at 900-2018. Scores should be reported as soon as possible after the event ends.
