LAKEPORT >> Three Clear Lake High School freshmen collected the first hits of their high school career on Saturday as the Cardinals beat the Upper Lake Cougars twice during non-league softball action in Lakeport.
First up was the completion of a game suspended March 20 in Upper Lake because of rain. Clear Lake prevailed 16-5 in five innings before going on to beat the Cougars 11-1 in six innings in the regulation game that followed.
Shaelyn McIntire was the winning pitcher and Julia Mooney the losing pitcher in both games. McIntire went the distance both times, allowing Upper Lake (1-6) just two hits in the regulation game while striking out seven and walking three.
Lilli Hill anchored the Clear Lake offense, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the suspended game and 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in the regulation game.
Emma Boatwright’s double in the suspended game was the first hit of her Clear Lake career. In the regulation game, two of Boatwright’s freshmen teammates — Joy Ingalls and Shelby Ingham — singled for their first high school hits.
“They came prepared to play and played very well in both games,” Clear Lake coach Doug Wingler said of his players. “They work hard and they’re getting better. I’ve been very pleased with them.”
Clear Lake improved to 5-1.
The Cardinals resume their North Central League I schedule on Tuesday in Middletown at 4 p.m. Upper Lake has the week off for spring break.
In other high school action Saturday:
Baseball
Arcata 11, Clear Lake 0
At McKinleyville, Clear Lake’s three-game northern road swing ended with a third straight loss as the Cardinals were shut out in five innings by the Arcata Tigers. Arcata also beat Clear Lake 8-2 on Friday.
In Saturday’s meeting, the Tigers took all the suspense out of the game early, scoring nine times in the bottom of the first inning. Arcata took advantage of five Clear Lake errors and had a no-hitter going until losing pitcher Darius Ford singled in the top of the fifth, the Cardinals’ only hit.
Ford left the game trailing 10-0 after two innings. Only five of the runs he allowed were earned. He struck out three and walked two.
In non-league action Friday at McKinleyville, Clear Lake lost 1-0 in eight innings to Del Norte before falling 8-2 to Arcata later in the day.
Against Del Norte, Clear Lake starting pitcher Cody Rybolt pitched six scoreless innings before giving way to reliever Preston Jones, who took the loss. Rybolt scattered three hits, struck out eight and walked one.
Jason Garrison went 3-for-4 for Clear Lake while Ford and Alex Adams each had two hits.
In the 8-2 loss to Arcata late Friday, the Tigers scored four times in the bottom of the second and never looked back. Clear Lake scored both of its runs in the top of the fourth.
Isaac Lewis was the losing pitcher. He allowed seven runs (four earned) in five innings, struck out two and walked five. Clear Lake’s defense committed three straight errors behind him during Arcata’s four-run second inning.
The Cardinals’ offense also struggled, going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Jones and Brady McGuire each went 2-for-3 with a double.
Clear Lake, now 3-4 on the season, travels to Middletown for a North Central League I game on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
