KELSEYVILLE — Mike Duman began the 2008 season the same way he ended 2007 on Tuesday as the Kelseyville Knights shut out the Calistoga Wildcats 11-0 in a non-league varsity baseball game at Lloyd Larson Field in Kelseyville.
The game was called after five innings because of the 10-run rule.
Duman homered in his first at-bat, driving a ball onto Park Avenue behind left field, to give the Knights all the offense they would need to beat Calistoga. Duman also homered in his final at-bat last season at Middletown”s Wes Martin Field.
“Not a bad start,” Kelseyville first-year coach Lou Poloni said of the Knights” initial effort of 2008. “We”ve still got to get a lot better to play with the Clear Lakes, Fort Braggs and Cloverdales, but for our first time out it was solid.”
Duman pitched the first three innings for the victory and combined with relievers Jared Wagner and Steven Grossner on a one-hitter. Calistoga”s only hit was a clean single up the middle in the top of the second.
“He threw mainly fastballs and was pumping strikes in there,” Poloni said of Duman, who struck out seven and didn”t walk a batter.
Wagner and Grossner each struck out the side and walked one while pitching the fourth and fifth innings, respectively.
“We threw strikes, we put the ball into play hard and did a lot of the little things,” Poloni said.
After Duman”s blast in the bottom of the first, the Knights added three runs in the second before erupting for a seven spot in the third.
Duman also doubled and ended up driving in three runs. Tommy Mingori and Dustin Panos also had two hits and two RBIs apiece. Kevin Gleason went 1-for-1 with a RBI.
Kelseyville (1-0) returns to action Friday afternoon at home against the Mendocino Cardinals at 3:30 p.m.
