LAKEPORT >> For the first time since 1992, someone other than Gary Pickle won a game as Clear Lake High School’s softball coach and that person was Doug Wingler, who collected career victory No. 1 on Tuesday as the Cardinals blasted the Piner Prospectors of Santa Rosa 18-1 in a non-league game at Lakeport.
Wingler, an assistant coach under Pickle last season when the Cardinals won the North Coast Section Division V championship, said it’s a different feeling now that he’s the guy in charge.
“It’s one of those things you always wish for until it gets there,” Wingler joked. “It was good to get the first one out of the way.”
With several of his players only recently joining the team because of their participation in wrestling and basketball, Wingler said the Cardinals had only one practice (on Monday) with the entire roster on the field at the same time. He said that was one reason why the Cardinals committed five errors in their season opener although the mistakes were mostly attributable to rookie players getting their first taste of action.
“I think the defense is only going to get better,” he said.
Rachel Wingler tossed a one-hitter in her first outing of 2016 and allowed no earned runs. She was backed by an 18-hit attack that featured a 4-for-4 day by veteran Mina Werner, who had a triple and three RBIs. Freshman Madi Ferguson also started the season strong, going 3-for-4 with a double.
“I’m pretty blessed in that I’m loaded with veterans on the top end but also have a lot of rookies,” Wingler said. “So far they’re working together real well.”
Clear Lake scored in every inning of a game called after 4 ½ innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. The Cardinals (1-0) led 7-0 after two innings and took a 14-1 lead into the fourth.
Among those new varsity players making a contribution their first time out were sophomore Regina Faalelea, who caught the entire game in place of starter Anessia Jack (shoulder soreness), and freshmen Grace Davidson and Kortnie Reynolds.
“It’s only the fifth day she’s been on the varsity and she caught the entire game, so she did really well,” Wingler said of Faalelea, who collected her first varsity hit as did Davidson and Reynolds.
Jack didn’t catch but did hit and went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Wingler also had two hits and a RBI in addition to striking out seven and walking none.
Weather permitting, the Cardinals host Santa Rosa on Friday at 3:30 p.m. There is a chance the game may be moved up to Thursday when no rain is in the forecast.
