LAKEPORT >> When transitioning from veteran coach to new coach, just add pitching.
That’s what the Clear Lake Cardinals did in 2016 as rookie coach Doug Wingler replaced 23-year veteran Gary Pickle at the helm of the school’s incredibly successufl softball program, one that hasn’t experienced a losing season since 1993.
Rachel Wingler, a four-year veteran and the daughter of Clear Lake’s new coach, made it about as smooth a transition as possible as the veteran-laden Cardinals won the undisputed North Central League I championship and made it as far as the quarterfinals of the North Coast Section Division IV playoffs, one year after winning it all in Division V.
Wingler, a two-sport star for Clear Lake during the 2015-16 sports season, is a candidate for the Lake County Record-Bee’s female Athlete of the Year award. While she pitched with an injury early in the season that prevented her from throwing the ball at 100 percent, Wingler was plenty good enough to lead the Cardinals to a 19-6 overall record, including 13-1 in league play. Along the way she notched her 700th career strikeout. Wingler also made her presence felt at the plate where she batted cleanup.
During her four seasons the Cardinals were 74-25 overall (.747) and 50-7 in league (.877). Six of the league losses were to Cloverdale, the other to Lower Lake.
Wingler and Clear Lake also had much success in volleyball during the fall sports season. As an outside hitter for the Cardinals, who posted a 19-10 overall record and were 9-5 in the NCL I standings, she led the team in kills, digs and aces.
The Record-Bee will profile female and male candidates for the Athlete of the Year award leading up to the naming of the 2015-16 winners. Coach of the Year winners in boys’ and girls’ sports also will be honored.
Athlete of the Year candidates must be juniors or seniors who play at least two varsity sports and are in good academic standing at their respective schools.
