FORESTVILLE — The Kelseyville Knights found the cure for five errors in the field on Tuesday against Arcata during a first-round game in the West County Invitational at El Molino High School.
“We made a few mistakes, but 17 hits makes up for that,” Kelseyville coach Morgan Weiper said of the Knights” 11-7 victory in a game called after six innings because of a tournament time rule.
The score might have ended up a bit more lopsided had play continued because Kelseyville (5-6) had the bases loaded with no outs when the game was called.
“As long as we can keep the bats going, that will give us a chance, always,” Weiper said of a productive Kelseyville offense. “We”re still struggling to make routine plays on defense, but we”re hitting the ball pretty well.”
Six Kelseyville players collected two or more hits. Mike Duman led the way, going 4-for-4 with a RBI. Richie Bucher went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs and Scott Luis went 2-for-2. Scott Khron (2-for-3) put the Knights ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the first with a liner over the fence in left field for a two-run homer.
Arcata scored five times in the top of the fourth to move in front 6-4, but Kelseyville answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning to push ahead to stay.
Luis Martinez, working in relief of Duman, earned the victory. Duman worked 4 2/3 innings for the no-decision.
Kelseyville plays Northgate today at 4:15 p.m.
In other tournament action Tuesday:
Balboa 12, Lower Lake 5
Coming off a 17-4 loss to tournament host El Molino in first-round action Monday, the Lower Lake Trojans didn”t fare much better in a consolation semifinal-round loss to Balboa High.
Losing pitcher Kevin Freeman spotted Balboa a 3-0 lead in the first inning but held the San Francisco team scoreless in the second and third. Lower Lake (3-7) pulled even with three runs in the top of the fourth before Balboa broke the game open with six runs in the bottom of the inning.
“We came back and tied it, then went flat,” Lower Lake coach Chris Denny said.
Lower Lake out-hit Balboa 11-10 but most of the Trojans” hits came from two players. Jonathan Haws, batting in the No. 7 slot, went 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs, and Jake Sanders, who plays catcher and leads off for Lower Lake, went 3-for-4. One of Haws” doubles two-hopped the fence in center field, 355 feet away from home plate.
“We need to get some of our other bats going,” Denny said.
Lower Lake plays the loser of a Tuesday game between Elsie Allen and Arcata today at 10:45 a.m.
