LAKEPORT >> The only starter who didn’t have a hit for the Clear Lake Cardinals in their 11-1, six-inning softball victory over the Fort Bragg Timberwolves on Tuesday afternoon in Lakeport may have had the biggest at-bat of all.
Freshman Madi Ferguson reached on an error to open the bottom of the sixth inning in a tight 4-1 contest, that after seeing 10-plus pitches before putting the ball into play.
“It was just a great at-bat,” Clear Lake coach Doug Wingler said of the spark that touched off a seven-run inning.
Half of Clear Lake’s 10 hits came in the sixth, the final one a RBI double by Emily Psalmonds that brought the 10-run mercy rule into play.
“Madi re-energized us with that at-bat,” Wingler said. “It was only a 4-1 game at that point. Fort Bragg played us tough.”
Alicia Ledesma went 2-for-4 with four RBIs as the North Central League I-leading Cardinals improved to 5-0 in league play and 10-4 overall. Shyanne Chapin went 2-for-4.
Winning pitcher Rachel Wingler allowed just four hits, struck out nine and walked one.
Clear Lake scored three times in the bottom of the third for a 3-0 lead. The Cardinals added a run in the fifth to go up 4-0 and Fort Bragg answered with a run in the top of the sixth.
Clear Lake returns to action on Thursday in St. Helena (1-4) at 4 p.m. St. Helena lost 7-6 to Lower Lake on Tuesday.
