WINTERS — Reliever Daniel Sallee allowed just one run in four innings on the mound, but the Middletown Mustangs still fell 7-1 to Quincy High School in the third-place game of the Winters Baseball Tournament on Saturday in Winters.
“He was one of the highlights,” Middletown coach Mitch Tucker said of the effort turned in by his sophomore third baseman/pitcher. “He threw great relief and he didn”t walk a batter.”
Losing pitcher Eric Tomko worked three-plus innings for the Mustangs (6-8), allowing six of Quincy”s seven runs. Sallee relieved during Quincy”s five-run fourth inning. He went the rest of the way, allowing six hits in his four innings and striking out five.
Sallee also had two of Middletown”s five hits and he scored the Mustangs” lone run, that in the bottom of the third inning to make it a 2-1 game. Quincy then broke the game open with a five-run fourth.
“We just made too many errors,” said Tucker, who also said the home plate umpire”s strike zone made it difficult for his pitchers to stay ahead of the Quincy batters.
“It was inconsistent,” Tucker said of the strike zone.
Middletown opens its North Central League I North schedule today at home against Willits. First pitch is 4 p.m. at Wes Martin Field.
