KELSEYVILLE –The road to the North Central League I North softball championship has gone through Fort Bragg in recent seasons. That might change this year.
Winning pitcher Jillian Allen went the distance and also had three hits and catcher Sarah Johnson threw out a runner trying to steal second for the final out on Tuesday as the Kelseyville Knights held off the Fort Bragg Timberwolves 7-6 on a cold, wet, icy and windy day at Kelseyville.
“We had wind, rain, hail and snow,” Kelseyville coach Greg Giusti said. “The wind gusts must have been up into the 40s. Horrible playing conditions.”
Fort Bragg rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh to make it 7-6 and had the potential tying run at first base with two outs when Johnson cut down Starla Beltran, who was attempting to move into scoring position with a steal. Johnson”s throw was fielded by shortstop Megan Andre, who slapped down the tag on a bang-bang play.
“Johnson made a couple of nice catches on (wind-blown) popups behind the plate,” Giusti said. “She had a really strong day behind the plate.”
Kelseyville (1-0, 5-6) snapped a 4-all tie with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Knights added another run in the sixth for a 7-4 lead.
Allen struck out five and walked two.
“She got a couple of key strikeouts at important times,” Giusti said.
Losing pitcher Kaley Rider struck out 10 but also walked six.
“Ten strikeouts is not acceptable,” Giusti said.
Willits 7, Middletown 6
At Willits, the Willits Wolverines upset the Middletown Mustangs in the NCL I North opener for both teams. Willits improved to 3-7 while Middletown (5-5) lost its fourth straight.
Game details were not reported.
In other action:
Baseball
Middletown 14, Willits 3
At Willits, John Hays (2-for-3) smacked a two-run home run and scored three times and winning pitcher Devin Nordin helped his own cause with a two-run single as the Middletown Mustangs knocked off the Willits Wolverines in the NCL I North opener for both of these varsity baseball teams.
Nordin, pitching on only three days rest, worked the first five innings in the six-inning game, which was called early because of the 10-run rule.
“He really wanted to pitch, he has family up there and they were coming to the game,” Middletown coach Mitch Tucker said. “He pitched great, he really did.”
Nordin threw only 65 pitches. He struck out four and walked two.
Middletown (1-0, 9-5) built an 11-0 lead before Willits finally scored in the bottom of the fourth. Hays” two-run home run highlighted a five-run outburst in the top of the fourth.
Zach Strickler went 3-for-5 with a double and a RBI for Middletown and Brett Humphrey and Dylan Pastor each went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Humphrey also had a double.
The Mustangs closed out the game with a 6-4-3 double play.
JV baseball
Middletown 17, Willits 3
At Middletown, Kyle Brown pitched a one-hitter and Connor Chick hit a bases-loaded triple as the Middletown junior varsity baseball team routed Willits in the NCL I North opener for both teams.
Middletown is 10-2 overall.
Bryan Holt went 2-for-4 with a triple for the Mustangs and Austin Hunter also had two hits.
