KELSEYVILLE — One day after collecting 17 hits at the plate in a win over Arcata, the Kelseyville Knights could manage just one, a first-inning single by Scott Luis, in a six-inning 10-0 loss to Northgate High School of Walnut Creek on Wednesday in the winner”s semifinal round of the West County Invitational at El Molino High School.
Northgate, the tournament favorite, will play for the championship today. Kelseyville faces Fortuna today at 10:45 a.m. in the third-place game.
“They”re a good team,” Kelseyville coach Morgan Weiper said. “Their pitcher & he just shut us down.”
Kelseyville (5-7) had won five of its last six entering play.
“We didn”t have our best hitting day,” Weiper said.
Kelseyville starting pitcher Jared Templeton lasted just 3 2/3 innings. Richie Bucher and Kevin Benjamin finished up.
In other tournament action Wednesday:
Arcata 12, Lower Lake 0
“This is by far in my four years year the flattest a team has played for me,” Lower Lake coach Chris Denny said of the Trojans” five-inning loss to Arcata in the seventh-place game.
Lower Lake (3-8) managed just two hits while dropping its fifth straight game, including all three of its tournament games. The Trojans were outscored 41-9 en route to their eighth-place finish.
“It was great to play three more games even if we didn”t win any of them,” Denny said. “We knew we weren”t going to win the tournament.”
Jesus Fonseca doubled and Kevin Jefferson singled for Lower Lake”s only two hits.
The Trojans return to action Tuesday when they host the Middletown Mustangs in the North Central League I North opener for both teams.
“We”ll be ready,” Denny said.
