Softball Game Preview: Clear Lake Cardinals vs. Middletown Mustangs

Clear Lake has gone 8-2 against Middletown recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Tuesday. The Cardinals will be playing at home against the Mustangs at 4:00 p.m. Clear Lake is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.2 runs per game this season.

Clear Lake will roll into the match after a wild two-game stretch: they only put up two runs on Thursday, then bounced right back against Lower Lake on Friday. The Cardinals put the hurt on the Trojans with a sharp 17-7 win. The Cardinals might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won six games by six runs or more this season.

Atiana Patino

Base on Balls Against

05/09/25 @ Lower Lake	1
05/08/25 @ Upper Lake	2
05/07/25 @ Cloverdale	2
05/06/25 vs Kelseyville	2

Atiana Patino made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing six innings while giving up just two earned (and five unearned) runs off six hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and four RBI. That home run marked the first that she has launched this season.

In other batting news, Karsyn Greer was incredible, getting on base in all five of her plate appearances with three runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. Ashlyn Cruz was another key player, getting on base in four of her six plate appearances with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.

Clear Lake always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .565. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Lower Lake only posted an OBP of .276.

Meanwhile, Middletown came into Friday's contest having lost eight straight, but that streak is now in the rearview. They had just enough and edged out Upper Lake 6-4. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Mustangs have posted since March 26th.

Middletown's win bumped their record up to 6-12. As for Clear Lake, the victory got them back to even at 8-8.

Clear Lake took their win against Middletown in their previous matchup back in April by a conclusive 20-5 score. Will the Cardinals repeat their success, or do the Mustangs have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.