LAKEPORT >> Call it a fish story because it most certainly is about the big one that got away on Tuesday afternoon in Lakeport where the Clear Lake Cardinals hosted the Ukiah Wildcats in a non-league softball game that also was part roller-coaster ride.
Leading 6-3 with one out and the bases empty in the top of the seventh inning, the Cardinals (2-1) simply couldn’t seal the deal as the Wildcats, defending North Bay League champions with nearly their entire 2015 team back this season, rallied with six runs for a 9-6 victory.
“We played well for 6 1/3 innings,” rookie coach Doug Wingler said of his first high school loss after two straight wins to open the season. “We made three errors in the inning and gave them six outs. We got the first out in the inning and then made an error. It was all downhill from there.”
In a game packed with drama, the Cardinals staked Ukiah, a team they lost to 13-3 a year ago in Ukiah, to a 3-0 lead. They closed to 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth and pulled ahead in spectacular fashion in the bottom of the fifth when losing pitcher Rachel Wingler launched a grand slam to left-center field.
“What really set up that inning were three quality at-bats by the hitters in front of Rachel,” Wingler said.
Emily Omiotek reached on an error, Shyanne Chapin was safe on a fielder’s choice and Alicia Ledesma walked to set the table for Wingler, who promptly cleared the bases with her one-out home run.
After a scoreless sixth inning, the Cardinals were just three outs away from not only opening the season 3-0, but beating a quality team in the process – the Wildcats went 13-1 in the NBL standings a year ago and 21-6 overall.
“We did take some positives out of the game,” Wingler said. “We were right where we wanted to be (going to the seventh) but we’ve got to finish. If our defense makes the plays we’re out of there with no runs in the inning.”
Winning pitcher Becky Pedersen, a sophomore, struck out six and walked two. She allowed six hits, two each to Wingler, Chapin and Anessa Jack. Wingler also went the distance, allowing 11 hits, three earned runs, striking out eight and walking one.
Clear Lake hits the road Thursday to play St. Vincent in Petaluma at 4 p.m. before returning home Saturday to take on Maria Carrillo, another NBL team, at 11 a.m.
