Cubs Drop League Opener to St. Bernard’s

CJ Van Meter pitched well enough to win against St. Bernard’s last week, but the Cubs bats were cold. [Photo by Janice Coffelt]

South Fork High’s baseball team was swept by Humboldt Del Norte Little Four Conference League rival St. Bernard’s in the league opener last week in MIranda, 7-2 and 2-1.

With little opportunity to practice over the past few weeks of non-stop rain it is not surprising that Cub hitting was below par. Head coach Andy Olsen said, “We were below average at the plate. We didn’t put the ball in play enough and we lacked clutch hits all day. We had opportunities, just weren’t able to capitalize on those opportunities.”

In the opener the Cubs managed just 4 hits, with lead-off man Cooper Scott the bright spot in the line up, getting two knocks, earning 2 free passes, and scoring both South Fork runs.

The Cubs led 2-1 at the end of five, but St. Bernard’s scored twice in the sixth and four times in the seventh to take the win. Right-hander junior Scott Coffelt got the loss, giving up three runs, two earned, while fanning three and walking seven. Scott relieved in the sixth and gave up a run and junior Aaron Etherton gave up three runs in the seventh.

In the night cap sophomore southpaw CJ Van Meter put on a pitching clinic that Olsen called “perhaps his best performance in a Cubs uniform to date.” Van Meter gave up one earned run, throwing a complete game, striking out six and walking just one.

Again the Cubs managed just four hits, with Etherton driving in South Fork’s lone run.

Cub bats will heat up with good weather. [Photo by Janice Coffelt]

Olsen knows the season is a marathon, not a sprint, and was pleased with the defense overall. He knows good pitching will hold up as the offense gathers the rhythm necessary to perform up to its potential. “We pitched well enough to win, but unfortunately we did not play our best baseball today.”

Weather permitting the Cubs will host Round Valley Thursday for a double header starting at 2 p.m. and will travel to Ferndale for the next leg of league competition this Saturday opening a double header at 11 a.m. The Cubs are now 4-2 overall, 0-2 in league.

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