LAKEPORT — Hank Ollenberger pitched a three-hitter and also went 3-for-3 at the plate as the Clear Lake Cardinals beat the Cloverdale Eagles 11-1 in a North Central League I varsity baseball game called after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule Tuesday afternoon in Lakeport.
It’s the second straight game Ollenberger has gone 3-for-3 — he also did it Friday against Kelseyville. The junior scored three times and also stole two bases as the Cardinals improved to 3-6 in the league standings and 5-8 overall.
“He’s just our spark plug,” Clear Lake head coach Brian Horne said. “When he’s going, the team goes.”
Perhaps even more impressive, according to Horne, was the defense the Cardinals played behind Ollenberger. It was actually good for a change.
“We haven’t played good defense early in games when he’s the starter,” Horne said. “That’s why I was using him in relief the last few games … and he was lights out. Today I decided to start him again and we played good defense behind him.”
The Cardinals came out swinging, led by their leadoff hitter Ollenberger. They went up 4-0 in the bottom of the first, added three more runs in the second and pushed their lead to 11-0 in the third. Cloverdale’s only run came in the top of the fifth.
Ollenberger struck out five and walked four.
Johnny Gonzales also went 3-for-3 for the Cardinals, driving in two runs, while Greyson Wind went 1-for-2 with a team-best four RBIs. Jacob Horne went 2-for-2.
In other NCL I action Tuesday:
Lower Lake 13, Willits 10
At Willits, besides scoring seven times in the top of the first inning against Willits, Lower Lake head coach Mark Peterson said a key to his team’s win over the Wolverines was pretty obvious.
“We weren’t playing at home,” Peterson joked. “All seven of our wins have come on the road this year.”
In a game Lower Lake (3-7, 7-9) led from the start, the Trojans pounded out 11 hits and improved to .500 against other Division 5 teams in the North Coast Section, meaning that if the season ended today they would be eligible for the playoffs.
“We still have one game left against a Division 5 team,” Peterson said with an eye toward Lower Lake’s non-league game Monday against Technology in Rohnert Park. “If we win that game we can qualify for the playoffs. That hasn’t happened here in like 40 years I think.”
Willits closed to 7-5 after Lower Lake’s big top of the first, an inning during which the Trojans sent 11 batters to the plate and collected six of their 11 hits on the day, including a clutch two-run double by Cody Gasperoni, who broke out of a slump, according to Peterson.
“It was like the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders,” Peterson said. “He had such a big smile on his face. I was really happy for him.”
Lower Lake put the game away with a five-run fifth to go up 12-5.
Winning pitcher Jordan O’Keefe worked 5 1/3 innings. Anthony Myer relieved in the sixth and helped snuff out a Willits rally by getting the Wolverines to hit into a double play.
“He threw only two pitches to get that double play,” Peterson said.
Jett Guralas worked the seventh, allowing Willits’ final two runs.
Dylan Sherman went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and scored twice for the Trojans while Guralas went 2-for-4 with a RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Buddy Felder (1-for-4) also had three stolen bases while driving in two runs.
Lower Lake will once again try for that elusive first home victory Friday against Middletown at 4 p.m.
St. Helena 9, Middletown 2
At Middletown, St. Helena improved to 8-2 in the league standings after jumping out to a 8-0 lead against the Middletown Mustangs at Wes Martin Field.
Errors and walks fueled the Saints’ three-run first and third innings. They added two more runs in the fourth.
“We had a lot of mental mistakes,” Middletown head coach Tyler Holt said. “We kind of checked out a little bit. We had walks and errors all over the place.”
Middletown (2-6, 2-11) closed to 8-2 in the bottom of the fourth on TJ Allred’s two-run single.
Hayden Xavier went 2-for-3 for the Mustangs. Jesse Young and Cisco Howland also had hits.
Starting pitcher Hunter Hartzog took the loss, allowing eight runs (three earned) in 3 1/3 innings while walking six. Jon Hawkins went the final 3 2/3 innings, allowing one run while striking out five and walking one.
Middletown plays Friday in Lower Lake.
In NCL II action:
Upper Lake 12, Potter Valley 2 (1st game)
Upper Lake 5, Potter Valley 4 (2nd game)
At Upper Lake, the Upper Lake Cougars rallied from a 4-0 deficit to win game two of their NCL II doubleheader with Potter Valley and earn the sweep.
Upper Lake prevailed 12-2 in five innings in the opener.
In game two, Potter Valley had a 4-0 lead after two innings. Upper Lake closed to 4-2 in the bottom of the third and then pushed ahead to stay with a three-run fourth.
Kyler Brothers worked four innings in relief of starter Will Henry to record the victory. He struck out nine while allowing only two hits and one run. He also anchored the offense, going 1-for-3 with three RBIs. Henry added a double.
In game one, Raymond Rahmer pitched a complete-game five-hitter, allowing no earned runs. Henry sparked the offense, going 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs. Jace Kelley (2-for-2) and Nick Foster (1-for-4) also knocked in two runs apiece, and Mikel Compton went 2-for-3.
Upper Lake is 3-2 overall.
The Cougars are home next Tuesday for a doubleheader with Anderson Valley that begins at 2 p.m.
