South Fork Baseball 4-0 to Start the 2017 Season

“It was nice to finally get out on the field and play a game after all the rain we’ve had,” said head coach Andy Olsen. The Cubs have hardly been able to get in an outdoor practice and have already had two scheduled games postponed because of the weather.

In the mercy rule-shortened opener against Potter Valley junior ace Scott Coffelt pitched two perfect innings for the win. Sophomore Cooper Scott pitched two scoreless innings and freshman Kayden Pogue pitched another scoreless inning. The Cubs allowed only 2 hits and fanned eleven.

The Cubs were gifted with 17 walks and had 8 hits. Coffelt was 2 for 5 with 6 RBIs and senior first baseman Ipo Savoie was 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs.

The second game was shortened to just 3 innings per league rules in the 10-0 win. Coffelt was 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs, Scott was 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs and junior right fielder Aaron Etherton was 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs.

Sophomore southpaw CJ Van Meter pitched 2 perfect innings for the win, striking out 5. Etherton relieved for one inning and gave up just a walk.

” I was pleased with all of the pitchers that threw today. We only walked 4 and threw a lot of strikes,” said Olsen.

South Fork was able to put everyone on the roster onto the field in the home opener. ” I was glad that we were able to get everybody into the game today and especially pleased with the 5 first year high school players on our team. I know they were excited and nervous but now the first game jitters are out of the way.”

In Friday’s double header sweep the Cubs got a complete game performance from Coffelt who struck out 13 while walking 3 in the first game. “Scott (Coffelt) had one of the most dominating pitching performances by a Cub in quite some time. He had good command of all his pitches and was able to keep his pitch count down early to make sure he could go deep in the game,” said Olsen.

The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 3rd. They scored 2 in the 6th and Point Arena answered with its first run in the bottom of the 6th. In the top of the 7th the Cubs exploded for 5 runs and Point Arena scored only one run in the bottom of the seventh.

The Cubs scored their 8 runs on just 4 hits, capitalizing on 8 free passes from Point Arena. Etherton and Van Meter each had 2 RBIs and sophomore catcher Cody Wyatt added two more.

In the nightcap Van Meter got the win in the mercy rule-shortened four-inning game, giving up just 1 earned run while striking out 5 and walking three.

Coffelt led the offense going 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs and 2 doubles. Savoie was 2 for 3 with 4 RBIs and a double. Wyatt had 3 runs scored and Scott and Van Meter each scored two. Scott had 3 stolen bases and Ayden Butterworth-Bignon had two.

Olsen had praise for Wyatt and Scott. “Cody (Wyatt) had an outstanding day at the plate. He reached base every time he was up (2 hits and 5 walks). Cooper (Scott) is doing exactly what we want as our lead-off hitter. He is getting on base a lot and is stealing bases with his exceptional speed. He is our catalyst. “

Up next for the Cubs is a home double header against Laytonville on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Miranda. On Friday they will travel to Arcata for a single game at 5 p.m.
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