LAKEPORT >> On the same Tuesday that Clear Lake’s Cody Rybolt pitched a no-hitter against the Willits Wolverines in North Central League I varsity baseball action, Shaelyn McIntire worked her own no-hit magic in the Cardinals’ softball win over the same school.
McIntire only needed to go five innings against Willits compared to Rybolt’s seven because the Lady Cardinals annihilated the winless Wolverines 29-0 in a North Central League I game at Lakeport. Just a few hundred yards away the Rybolt-led baseball team blanked Willits 7-0.
“She’s getting better and better,” Clear Lake coach Doug Wingler said of the sophomore McIntire, who managed to maintain her focus even though the Cardinals had two really long at-bats – a 12-run second inning and an 11-run third.
“She was pretty much in control from the first pitch,” Wingler said.
McIntire struck out 11, walked one and hit one. The Wolverines had a total of three baserunners – the other reaching on an error – but couldn’t advance anyone past second base.
Clear Lake did not lack for baserunners. The Cardinals pounded out 17 hits, drew 17 walks and had six players hit by pitches.
Sara Ogden led the way, going 4-for-4 with a double, triple and three RBIs. Shelby Ingham went 3-for-4 with a RBI and Madi Ferguson (2-for-3) and Lilli Hill (2-for-3) each drove in four runs. Even McIntire got into the act, going 2-for-3 with a RBI.
Clear Lake is 6-4 in league and 11-4 overall.
In other softball action Tuesday:
Middletown 11, St. Helena 1
At Middletown, Devin Clark went 3-for-4 with two triple and a RBI and Makaili Brown went 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs as the Middletown Mustangs defeated the St. Helena Saints.
Middletown (7-3, 9-6) brought an early end to the game with a six-run sixth inning, at which point the 10-run mercy rule came into effect.
“We came out focused on hitting,” Middletown coach Bob Gunion said. “Everyone contributed to the win.”
Middletown’s other top hitters were Abi Murphy (3-for-4), Jessica Zell (2-for-4, 3 RBIs) and Aly Ferguson (2-for-2).
Winning pitcher Savannah McLaughlin worked all six innings, striking out three and walking two. She blanked St. Helena (1-9) after the first inning.
Lower Lake 6, Fort Bragg 5 (1st game)
Fort Bragg 18, Lower Lake 13 (2nd game)
At Lower Lake, the Lower Lake Trojans managed a doubleheader split with Fort Bragg in NCL I action and are now 4-6 in league play and 10-8 overall.
Lower Lake scored a run in the seventh inning to win the opener. Mikelynn Rowe (2-for-4) led off with a single but ended up on third base after the Fort Bragg right fielder misplayed the ball. She scored the winning run on Kayla Sanderson’s RBI groundout to second base. Sanderson also had two hits for the Trojans.
The nightcap turned into a marathon as the two teams combined for 31 runs, 28 hits and seven errors.
After pitching a complete game in the opener, Lower Lake’s Shelby Sapeta struggled in game two. She went 6 2/3 innings but was battered for 15 hits and all 18 Fort Bragg runs, 12 of them earned. The sophomore pitched a complete game on Friday and parts of two games Saturday during a non-league split doubleheader at Chico.
“She was running out of gas,” Lower Lake coach Chris Emberson said. “I asked her if she wanted to come out but she wanted to pitch.”
Kalysta Howard recorded the final out of game two and may draw the start Wednesday when the Trojans are back in action against Eureka in a non-league game at Lakeport.
Howard went 3-for-4 in game two while Rowe and Jolina Gonzales each had two hits. Gonzales and Jackie Cooper each had two RBIs.
“We got the split but we needed to win both,” Emberson said.
Fort Bragg is 4-5 in league play.
St. Vincent 18, Upper Lake 0
At Petaluma, the St. Vincent Mustangs came out swinging as they scored 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning of their NCL II victory over the Upper Lake Cougars.
St. Vincent’s first 10 batters all reached base, according to Upper Lake coach Nick Williamson. “They just hit the heck out of the ball. They were amazing in that first inning.”
The game was called after 4 ½ innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.
Christina Wilson, Molly McCabe and Laylah Medina had Upper Lake’s only hits.
The Cougars are 1-4 in league and 2-9 overall.
