MIDDLETOWN — The battle to remain close to undefeated Fort Bragg in the North Central League I North softball standings went to the Middletown Mustangs, 10-3 winners over the Kelseyville Knights on Friday afternoon at Middletown High School.
Middletown (2-1 North, 7-8 overall) struck early with four first-inning runs and never looked back as winning pitcher Jen Emberson tossed a four-hitter, striking out four and walking two.
“She pitched a pretty good game,” Middletown coach Lisa Rogers said.
Emberson also doubled twice and drove in a run as the Mustangs unleashed an 18-hit barrage on the Knights. Alicia Siri led the way, going 4-for-4 with two runs and a RBI. Kayla Dilks went 3-for-3 with a double and three RBIs and Megan Marincic went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.
“They just stepped it up,” Rogers said of her team”s performance. “They definitely were up for it.”
“I didn”t think we played that bad,” Kelseyville coach Greg Giusti said. “To Middletown”s credit, they just hit the ball very well. I tip my cap to them.”
Kelseyville is 2-2 in league and 9-9 overall.
In other action Tuesday:
Lower Lake 11, Willits 8
At Lower Lake, Darlena White smacked a two-run homer and Maria Copas, just called up to the varsity squad, added a solo shot in her first varsity at-bat as the Trojans held off a late rally by Willits to beat the Wolverines.
It was the first NCL I North win for the Trojans (1-2, 2-12).
“We tried to give it away there at the end, but we regrouped and held on,” Lower Lake coach Tim Sherrell said of a late push by the Wolverines, who scored seven runs in the final two innings.
White (3-for-4) homered during the Trojans” five-run third inning as Lower Lake opened up a 9-1 lead. She also had a RBI single. Stefanie Mederos and Ashley Willard added three hits apiece. Second baseman Willard also made a great catch in short right field in the top of the seventh, running down a soft line drive, to take the steam out of a budding Willits rally.
Baseball
Middletown 9, Kelseyville 6
At Middletown, Kyle Harmyk”s RBI single snapped a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning and John Hays followed with a two-run double to the left-center field gap to lift the Middletown Mustangs over the Kelseyville Knights in NCL I North action.
It was the first league win for Middletown (1-2, 7-10).
“Today we played defense, pitched well and hit the ball,” Middletown coach Mitch Tucker said. “We finally put all three together.”
Kelseyville (1-3, 9-11) also lost its coach, Lou Poloni, who was ejected during Middletown”s three-run rally in the sixth.
The disputed play involved a forceout at second base. A Middletown runner was originally called out but after the two umpires met to discuss the play, the runner was ruled safe, prompting a protest from Poloni, who was ejected shortly thereafter.
“I think it was good call, but Lou had every right to question it,” Tucker said.
Johnny Harmyk went 4-for-4 with a triple and a RBI for Middletown and brother Kyle went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
Dustin Panos” RBI single in the top of the sixth for Kelseyville tied the game at 6-6.
Matt Jones went 3-for-4 with a double and a RBI for the Knights. Mike Duman and Justin Lilly added two hits apiece.
Willits 5, Lower Lake 2
At Lower Lake, the Lower Lake Trojans stranded seven runners in scoring position and left the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh as they fell to the Willits Wolverines n NCL I North play.
Losing pitcher Jonathan Haws hit a hard grounder off the pitcher”s glove with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, but the ball ricocheted to the Willits shortstop, who threw out Haws for the final out.
Willits (3-0) snapped a 2-all tie with two runs in the top of the sixth, both scoring on a suicide squeeze play.
“The (second) runner missed third base, it wasn”t even close, but the umpires didn”t see it,” Lower Lake coach Chris Emberson said. “One umpire was watching home and the other was looking at first. They teach that play at the college level.”
Emberson said he correctly guessed the squeeze was on and ordered a pitchout, but that sophomore reliever Stephen Whitcomb missed the sign and threw the ball over the plate.
Jake Sanders went 2-for-4 for Lower Lake (0-3, 3-14) and Jesus Fonseca went 1-for-2 with a RBI.
Willits improved to 3-0 in the North standings.
