LOWER LAKE — You can’t win if you can’t score and the Lower Lake Trojans weren’t able to break through against Clear Lake’s Shaelyn McIntire or a stifling Cardinals defense on Friday afternoon in a North Central League I softball battle for sole possession of second place.
In a battle of juniors who have pitched exceedingly well for their respective teams this season, an extremely sick McIntire allowed just five hits as the Cardinals beat the Trojans 3-0 for their seventh straight league win. The loss also snapped a 10-game Lower Lake winning streak despite a strong effort from losing pitcher Shelby Sapeta, who allowed only two hits and didn’t lose her shutout until Clear Lake’s three-run top of the fifth, Lower Lake’s only two errors of the game setting up all of those runs.
“I had a feeling it was going to be the team that made the first mistake that was going to lose and luckily it wasn’t us,” Clear Lake coach Phil Psalmonds said as the Cardinals improved to 11-2 in league and 16-4 overall. They have one league game remaining, that on Tuesday at home against Fort Bragg, then it’s off to the North Coast Section Division V playoffs where they’ll likely be either the No. 1 or 2 seed.
Lower Lake coach Dave Milano said he had the same feeling as Psalmonds. “I talked to the girls about it and with two teams like this, evenly matched, it was going to come down to who made the most mistakes. We didn’t make many but they didn’t make any.”
“How often do you win with two hits?” Psalmonds said. “Our defense is the best in the NCL I. We went from being pretty good to not making any mistakes. We know what to do with that ball.”
And the Cardinals proved it on two occasions, beginning in the bottom of the first when the Trojans put their first two hitters aboard — Jessica Hernandez on a double and Patti McCleery on an infield single to shortstop on which Hernandez held at second base. McIntire, suffering from flu-like conditions, struck out Mikelynn Rowe for the first out. The next batter, Lily Griffin, ripped a line drive to left field that Sydney Lawler gloved and turned into an inning-ending double play as her throw to second base doubled off Hernandez.
The Trojans mounted another threat in the fifth with runners at second and third with one out. Third baseman Sara Ogden fielded a grounder at third base, faked a throw to first, and flipped the ball back to shortstop Madi Ferguson, who snuck in behind the runner at third base and tagged her out on the play. McIntire struck out then next batter to end the inning.
McIntire spent most of her day at school and between innings in a horizontal position because of her flu-like symptoms, according to Psalmonds. Even so, she didn’t want to miss the start and didn’t want to leave the game once it was underway.
“Even if I had asked her for the ball, she wouldn’t have given it to me,” Psalmonds said. “She had no business being out there, but she wasn’t giving up the ball. She’s incredible.”
Clear Lake’s winning rally began with a leadoff walk to Lilli Hill, one of only two walks issued by Sapeta, who struck out 12. One out later, Raina Clifton put down a sacrifice bunt and ended up at second base on a throwing error that put runners at second and third. Shelby Ingham bounced a comebacker to Sapeta that was going to score one run, but when Sapeta threw the ball away at first base both runners scored. Ingham ended up at second base and later scored on a two-out singe by Ogden.
As impressed as Psalmonds was with his own pitcher’s efforts, he had equally kind words for Sapeta.
“She was fantastic,” Psalmonds said. “She’s definitely an All-League first-team player. They can beat anybody on any day if she’s got her good stuff.”
“It was a fun game to be a part of,” Milano added.
Sapeta, Kayla Doud and Jackie Cooper had Lower Lake’s other hits.
Lower Lake is now 10-3 and 14-7 overall with one league game left, that on Tuesday in Cloverdale against the undefeated Eagles (12-0, 21-0).
In other softball action Friday:
Fort Bragg 6, Kelseyville 5
At Kelseyville, Kelseyville snapped a 2-2 tie on MJ Boardman’s two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning before Fort Bragg rallied with four runs in the top of the seventh to beat the Knights in a NCL I thriller.
Paige Bour’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh pulled Kelseyville (4-9, 6-10) to within a run at 6-5 but the game ended with Bour at second base.
“We always battle with Fort Bragg,” Kelseyville assistant coach Phil Mateer said. “When we went to their field we lost to them by a run (13-12 on April 9). I’m proud of the girls, they played hard.”
Kelseyville took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third on a two-run single by Maddy Barker. Fort Bragg tied it at 2-2 in the top of the fifth.
Playing their final home game of the season, the Knights honored their seniors, including Destiny Peters who pitched the first six innings and left the game with the score knotted at 2. Mikayla Guistolise worked the seventh and took the loss. Peters also had a pretty good day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double.
“Paige made some great plays at shortstop,” Mateer said.
Upper Lake 14, Tomales 3
At Tomales, the Upper Lake Cougars scored eight runs in the top of the first inning and rolled past the Tomales Braves for their first NCL II win.
Upper Lake (1-3, 3-7) pounded out 21 hits. Hailey Reams went 4-for-4 while winning pitcher Katlyn Minnis, Colene Pulido and Rebecca Harper added three hits apiece. Cheyanne Obedoza went 2-for-2 with a double, triple and three RBIs.
“It was a nice day,” Upper Lake coach Nick Williamson said.
Minnis pitched the first 3 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking two. Angel O’Sullivan finished up.
The Cougars are home Tuesday to face St. Vincent in their league and season finale.
