LAKEPORT >> If you give Cloverdale High School ace Tehya Bird a big lead to work with, prepare to receive some nice parting gifts as you exit the ballfield with a loss.
That’s what happened to the Clear Lake Cardinals on Thursday afternoon as they dropped a 9-4 decision in North Central League I softball action at Lakeport. It was the league opener for the Eagles (1-0 league, 4-0 overall), who built an early 7-1 advantage against losing pitcher Shaelyn McIntire. Clear Lake (1-1, 3-1) was able to chip away and close to 7-4 before Cloverdale put the game away with a two-run seventh.
Bird, a sophomore, set the tone for the game in the top of the first inning when she led off with a home run to straightaway center field. Clear Lake tied the score in the bottom half, but the Eagles struck for five runs in the second and another in the third.
“It was an uphill battle from there,” Clear Lake coach Doug Wingler said. “We had two errors and a couple of walks in that (five-run second) inning that hurt us.”
Wingler said his squad still managed to make a game of it and never gave up.
“Down 7-1 we could have folded the tent up,” Wingler said. “We kept battling and had baserunners, but we just couldn’t get over the hump.”
Clear Lake got as close as 7-4 with a two-run third inning and a single run in the sixth.
The Cardinals had some bad luck as well including a McIntire at-bat where she lined the ball hard toward right field only to watch it strike Clear Lake’s baserunner at first, Lilli Hill.
“If it doesn’t hit her it’s probably out to the fence,” Wingler said.
Another hard-hit ball by the Cardinals struck an umpire.
Calling his team’s game against the Eagles, perennial NCL I contenders, a measuring stick, Wingler said his squad needs to tighten up its defense first and foremost.
“We need to be more sharp on defense,” Wingler said. “I wasn’t unhappy with the way Shaelyn pitched and I think our pitching will improve. I think our offense will be OK.”
While Bird struck out 10 and issued only two walks, McIntire issued nine walks while striking out seven.
“We pitched pretty carefully to Bird after that (her leadoff home run) and I had her pitch around a couple of their batters,” Wingler said in explaining McIntire’s high walk count.
McIntire’s battery mate, catcher Regina Faalelea, anchored the Clear Lake offense with a 3-for-4 day at the plate that included a double and a RBI. Maddie Ferguson went 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
The Cardinals host Upper Lake on Saturday, first to complete a suspended game, then for a regulation non-league contest. Action begins at 11 a.m. Clear Lake’s next league game is Tuesday at Middletown.
