LAKEPORT — Four games into their 2021 season schedule, the Clear Lake Cardinals are in the win column following a 10-0 victory over the visiting Upper Lake Cougars on Friday in non-league varsity baseball action at Lakeport.
Winning pitcher Maddox Albaum blanked Upper Lake (0-1) on three hits in its season opener while striking out five and walking two. He needed only 64 pitches for his complete game, which was called after 4 ½ innings because of the 10-run rule.
“Maddox had a tremendous outing,” Clear Lake head coach Ed Pepper said.
Clear Lake (1-3) went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first and added to its lead from there, scoring three runs in each of the second, third and fourth innings.
“We did our job all the way through the batting order,” Pepper said. “We played a complete game … pitched good, hit good and fielded good, only a couple of errors.”
Cody Banks, Will Henry and Dylan Slater collected the only hits for the Cougars, who had only one scrimmage last week to prepare for their season opener.
“It has been pretty tough having a short preseason,” Upper Lake head coach Brian Milhaupt said. “But my guys didn’t give up. They gave it all they had.”
Upper Lake’s best scoring chance came in the top of the third with two runners aboard, but Clear Lake turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.
Ryan Ollenberger went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs for the Cardinals. Jonathon Werner and Ethan Maize also had two hits apiece to back Albaum’s solid pitching.
Losing pitcher Bradley Sneathen worked the first three innings, striking out three and walking six.
Milhaupt said both Sneathen and Henry, who split time on the mound and behind the plate during the game, turned in solid efforts.
“They really competed today,” he said.
“It always feels good to get a win,” Pepper said of a good week for his team. On Tuesday the Cardinals pushed Colusa (5-0) into extra innings before falling 7-5 at home.
“We definitely came out today and carried over that momentum,” he said.
Clear Lake plays twice under the lights next week — Tuesday at Healdsburg’s Recreation Park and Friday at Credo (Rohnert Park). Both games start at 6 p.m. Upper Lake is home Wednesday to play Lower Lake at 4 p.m.
