LOWER LAKE >> Madi Ferguson’s sacrifice fly to right field scored Sydney Lawler with what proved to be the winning run on Tuesday afternoon as the Clear Lake Cardinals edged the Lower Lake Trojans 4-3 in a North Central League I softball game at Lower Lake.
With the score knotted at 2 since the third inning, Clear Lake (3-3 league, 7-3 overall) finally broke the tie with a two-run seventh that began with back-to-back bunt singles by No. 9 hitter Joy Ingalls and leadoff hitter Sydney Lawler. Ingalls scored on a passed ball to give the Cardinals a 3-2 lead and Lawler raced home on Ferguson’s flyball for a big insurance run that turned out to be the difference in the game.
“It was definitely a team win,” Clear Lake coach Doug Wingler said. “We needed it and we got it against a good team. That was a big win for us.”
“We’re not a very good team right now,” Lower Lake coach Chris Emberson countered even though the Trojans are 7-4 on the season, albeit just 2-3 in league. “We can’t put all three aspects of the game together (hitting, pitching defense). We made a lot of mental errors today.”
Lower Lake came back with a run in the bottom of the inning on a Kayla Sanderson RBI groundout and had the potential tying run at third base when the game ended with a flyball to left field.
Both teams stranded all kinds of runners, especially in the early innings. Lower Lake left two on in the first and the bases loaded in the second.
Winning pitcher Shaelyn McIntire weaved a gem, according to Wingler, as she allowed just four hits, struck out eight and walked two.
“I’ll take that strikeout-to-walk ratio anytime,” Wingler said.
“She threw the ball well for them today,” Emberson added of McIntire. “It was a pitcher’s duel for a while.”
Losing pitcher Shelby Sapeta struggled with her control at times, walking six and hitting two others, but she was able to escape a handful of jams as was McIntire.
“They played small ball, which we knew was coming, but give them credit, they put pressure on us the whole game,” Emberson said of the Cardinals.
“My girls have been competing all year and we finally found a way to close out a game,” Wingler said.
Lawler went 2-for-3 with a double for Clear Lake while Lily Griffin went 2-for-4, both doubles, for Lower Lake.
Clear Lake is home Thursday to play Fort Bragg in a league game and home again on Friday against St. Bernard in non-league action. Lower Lake travels to Cloverdale on Friday.
In other NCL I softball action Tuesday:
Middletown 13, Willits 3
At Willits, Abi Murphy (1-for-3) drove in four runs, three of them with a bases-loaded double, and Aly Ferguson (2-for-3) knocked in three more as the Middletown Mustangs improved to 4-1 in the league standings with a five-inning victory over the Willits Wolverines.
Winning pitcher Savannah McLaughlin, Devin Clark and Mykayla Smith (2-for-2) also collected RBIs in the win. Three of Middletown’s 10 hits were doubles – by Murphy, Makaili Brown and Sydney Frank.
Middletown scored at least two runs in each of the first three innings while building an 8-3 lead.
“I’m pleased with the way we swung the bat,” Middletown coach Bob Gunion said. “We were very aggressive and disciplined.”
Middletown shortened the game with a five-run top of the fifth inning. When Willits didn’t score in the bottom half, the 10-run mercy rule came into play.
McLaughlin pitched a four-hitter, struck out five and walked four.
“She was poised and hit her pitches,” Gunion said.
The Mustangs hit the road Wednesday to play St. Helena before returning home Friday to take on Kelseyville.
Kelseyville 10, Fort Bragg 2
At Kelseyville, Kelseyville’s slumbering offense is starting to wake up. The Knights pounded out 13 hits — all singles — while beating the Fort Bragg Timberwolves.
“We’re starting to come out of that little slump we’re in,” Kelseyville coach Phil Psalmonds. “Now we just need a little more power.”
One thing the Knights (4-0, 8-1) have plenty of is pitching and defense. Allison Bryant went the distance and allowed just one earned run while surrendering eight hits. She struck out three and walked two. While Kelseyville did commit three errors, one of them came on a play by third baseman Tymeka Green, who reached a ball few others could, according to Psalmonds. “Her throw was off but it was a great play just to get to the ball.”
Kelseyville took all the suspense out of this one early after building a 6-0 lead in the first two innings. Bryant and the Knights’ defense took it from there.
“Alli kept their hitters off balance,” Psalmonds.
Grace Davidson went 3-for-3 with a RBI and Paige Bour went 2-for-3 with two RBIs to anchor the Kelseyville offense. Bailey Couey (2-for-4) and Bib Hamner (2-for-4, RBI) added two hits apiece and Kaleigh Nunn went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Taylor Paulich also drove in two runs.
Fort Bragg fell to 2-3 in the league standings.
Kelseyville travels to Middletown (4-1) on Friday.
