Brian Sumpter posted: " CLOVERDALE — The Lower Lake Trojans were a hit away from making things interesting, but Cloverdale pitcher Charlotte Burchett worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the sixth inning during the Eagles' 5-1 North Central League I softball win Mo" Lake County Record-Bee
Lower Lake shortstop Brandy Klein shovels the ball to second baseman Brialyn Anderson to force a Cloverdale runner in the bottom of the second inning. (Photos by Brian Sumpter)
CLOVERDALE — The Lower Lake Trojans were a hit away from making things interesting, but Cloverdale pitcher Charlotte Burchett worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the sixth inning during the Eagles' 5-1 North Central League I softball win Monday afternoon at Daly Field in Cloverdale.
"We've just got to start hitting the ball," Lower Lake first-year coach Tara Downey said as the Trojans left eight runners on base against the Eagles (1-1 league, 5-2 overall), five in the last two innings. "We still haven't gotten the jitters out yet."
Cloverdale's Tylie Hatcher scores on a wild pitcher in the bottom of the fourth inning to give the Eagles a 5-0 lead. Looking on is Lower Lake pitcher Keeley Parks.
Both Burchett and her Lower Lake counterpart, Keeley Parks, pitched complete games. Burchett allowed only three hits while striking out 10 and walking five while Parks surrendered 10 hits, struck out six and walked two. The Trojans' defense did a good job behind her, hauling in a handful of well-struck flyballs and one shallow one where right fielder Deanna Rodriguez collided with second baseman Brialyn Anderson but hung onto the ball in the top of the fifth inning.
"My defense was on fire today," Downey said. "It was a good day."
Lower Lake's best defensive play was first baseman Rebecca Theodorou's grab in foul territory of a popup off the bat of Cloverdale leadoff hitter Tylie Hatcher in the bottom of the sixth.
While the Trojans (0-2, 0-2) came up short against the Eagles, they did manage to score their first run of the season on a Shaye Tubbs sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth. Aliana Barnes got things started with a one-out single, a slicing popup that glanced off the glove of Cloverdale's second baseman in shallow right field for Lower Lake's first hit of the game. Barnes stole second base and continued on to third when the throw from Cloverdale's catcher sailed into center field. After Rodriguez walked, Tubbs lofted a flyball into medium right field to score Barnes from third base.
Cloverdale's Shasta Vlasak is out on a close play at first base after hitting a comebacker to the mound. Lower Lake pitcher Keeley Parks looks on as Rebecca Theodorou fields a low throw.
Six of the 10 hits allowed by Parks came in two innings -- the three-run Cloverdale bottom of the second and the Eagles' two-run fourth. Toree Hatcher doubled to the fence in left field to score Cloverdale's first two runs in the second. Shasta Vlasak's bunt single, the third straight hit by the Eagles, put runners at the corners. Hatcher scored a short time later on a a Lower Lake error.
Tylie Hatcher's RBI single in the fourth pushed the Eagles' lead to 4-0. After a single by Camie Donahoo, who went 3-for-4 on the day, both runners advanced on a double steal. Hatcher scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-0, but Parks escaped further trouble by retiring the next two Cloverdale batters on a strikeout and a popup to third base.
Parks gave up a two-out standup triple to Trinity Vlasak in the bottom of the fifth but struck out Toree Hatcher to end the inning.
Lower Lake had a golden opportunity to cut into Cloverdale's lead in the top of the sixth when pinch-hitter Kaitlyn Klien led off the inning with an infield second. She advanced to second base on a wild pitch before Norma Tremble walked. After Theodorou flied out to right field, Jamiya Lee Ayers walked to load the bases. Burchett ended the threat by getting Brandy Klein on a called third strike and Barnes on a comebacker to the mound.
Lower Lake first baseman Rebecca Theodorou runs down a foul popup off the bat of Cloverdale's Tylie Hatcher in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Lower Lake first baseman Rebecca Theodorou makes the catch in foul territory as pitcher Keeley Parks looks on.
The Trojans threatened again after two were out in the seventh. Parks singled to right field and Kaitlyn Klein was hit by a pitch before Tremble struck out to end the game.
Parks just missed another hit in the top of the third with a runner at first and one out. She hit a soft liner into right field but was thrown out at first base on a rare 9-3 putout.
Cloverdale head coach Margaret Fitzgerald, closing in on as 40 years as the Eagles' head coach, said it wasn't the Eagles' sharpest effort of the season but it was a win. Coming off a 4-0 loss to league favorite St. Helena last week, the NCL I opener for both teams, Fitzgerald said Cloverdale batters chased too many high pitches from Parks, resulting in too many popups and flyball outs, even if several were well hit.
"Generally we hit the heck out of the ball," Fitzgerald said. "We were not disciplined at the plate today."
The Eagles have never been particularly sharp in Monday games, according to Fitzgerald, but Cloverdale's veteran coach said she was glad the game was moved up from Tuesday since another storm is bearing down on the North Coast.
"We need games," Fitzgerald said. "This wasn't our best effort, but a win is a win."
Downey said it almost felt like a win for the Trojans because of the play of the team's defense.
"We've got to keep pushing forward," Downey said of her young squad.
Lower Lake is home Friday to play Willits at 4 p.m.
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