UPPER LAKE — Jake Sanders” three-run home run was the big blow during a 10-run fourth inning for the Lower Lake Trojans, who beat the Upper Lake Cougars 17-3 in a North Central League I interlock varsity baseball game on Friday in Upper Lake.
The game was called after five innings because of the 10-run rule.
“Boy, did the spokes fall out of the wheel,” Upper Lake coach Don Meri said of what had been a competitive game through three innings.
Both teams struck early. Lower Lake (3-7) scored five times in the top of the first against losing pitcher Devin Callen, but Upper Lake (5-8) came back with three runs in the bottom of the first against winning pitcher Jonathan Haws.
“I don”t want to take anything away from Lower Lake because they hit the crap out of the ball, but we made terrible decisions once we had the ball,” Meri said of a shaky effort by the Cougars” defense.
Sanders, one of four Lower Lake players with two hits, smacked a three-run shot into the horse pen beyond the left-field fence in the top of the fourth. The Trojans had seven of their 12 hits in the inning and sent 15 batters to the plate.
Haws, who pitched four innings for the victory, helped his own cause by going 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Jesus Fonseca went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Angel Macias went 2-for-3 with a RBI.
For Upper Lake, James Eubanks went 2-for-2 with a double and a RBI, Joe Barnes went 2-for-3 and Josh Stuckert went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
In other NCL I interlock action Friday:
Willits 7, Clear Lake 6
At Willits, the Willits Wolverines scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game and then beat the Clear Lake Cardinals with a run in the eighth.
It was a frustrating afternoon for the Cardinals (10-2), who saw their nine-game winning streak end. They stranded 12 runners and left the bases loaded in the third, fourth and sixth innings.
“We didn”t get the big hit when we needed it,” Clear Lake coach Paul Larrea said. “We were a little out of sync.”
Clear Lake led 6-3 after scoring twice in the top of the sixth. Willits began its comeback with a run in the bottom of the sixth.
Mike Zimmerman worked the first seven innings for Clear Lake and received a no-decision. Reliever Ryan Hansford allowed an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth and took the loss.
Roman Rose had a big day at the plate for Clear Lake, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs. Zane Butler and Noel McCormack each had two hits.
Cloverdale 7, M”town 6
At Cloverdale, Middletown rallied with four runs in the top of the sixth to make it close before falling to the Cloverdale Eagles at City Park.
Middletown (5-6) lost starting pitcher and cleanup hitter Eric Tomko in the top of the third inning and had to go its bullpen early against the Eagles. Tomko was ejected after protesting a called third strike.
“He said a naughty word and the umpire tossed him,” Middletown coach Mitch Tucker said.
Kyle Harmyk” bases-loaded double in the top of the sixth drove in three runs and cut Cloverdale”s lead to 7-6.
The Mustangs did get the potential tying run aboard in the top of the seventh when Dylan Galusha singled with two outs, but the next batter struck out to end the game.
Devin Nordin, the second of three Middletown pitchers, took the loss.
John Hays went 1-for-3 with two RBIs for Middletown.
St. Helena 5, Kelseyville 4
At St. Helena, Kelseyville tied the game with a run in the top of the seventh, but the St. Helena Saints scored in the bottom of the eighth to edge the Knights.
Kelseyville rallied from 2-0 and 4-3 deficits to force the game into extra innings.
“We played hard and came back a couple of times,” Kelseyville coach Lou Poloni said.
Trailing 4-3 going to the top of the seventh, losing pitcher Mike Davis reached on an error and worked his way around to third with two outs. Mike Duman hit a hard shot off the St. Helena third baseman, ruled an error, and Davis scored to tie the game.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Saints loaded the bases with no outs on a hit batsman, a single and an intentional walk. The next batter rolled a grounder to the pulled-in Kelseyville second baseman, who made a bad throw home as the winning run crossed the plate.
Justin Lilly worked the first six innings for Kelseyville.
Duman went 2-for-4 with two RBIs as Kelseyville fell to 6-8. Dustin Panos also had two hits.
