KELSEYVILLE — Nine can be a real good number in baseball or a real bad one depending on the column it”s listed under.
If it goes in front of the column marked errors, chances are you”ll experience the same result the Kelseyville Knights did on Tuesday as they dropped an ugly 14-5 decision to Fort Bragg at a wind-swept Lloyd Larson Field in Kelseyville.
Even worse, it was the North Central League I North opener for coach Lou Poloni”s squad, which melted down over the final two innings, allowing 10 runs. Errors — both physical and mental — played a big part in that.
“Obviously I”m really disappointed how we played the whole game to be honest with you,” Poloni said. “We looked like a really poorly coached team. We were just not ready to play.”
Poloni said a handful of mental errors were inexcusable on the Knights” part.
“We looked like we did not understand the game of baseball,” Poloni said.
Fort Bragg, now 2-0 in the North standings, jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, a rally fueled by Kelseyville miscues. The Knights (0-1, 9-6) got one of those runs back in the bottom of the first and were about to score another when a baserunning mistake ended the inning. In the seventh, trailing by double digits, a Kelseyville runner stole second base — a bad play even had the Knights been leading by double digits.
“He said he wanted to get into scoring position,” Poloni said. “That”s great, except the tying run is about 10 guys away.”
Kelseyville trailed only 4-1 until the top of the sixth. The Timberwolves scored five times in the inning and then added five more runs in the seventh to complete the rout.
About the only thing worse than the Knights” performance, according to Poloni, was the weather. Rain and hail fell during the game and gusty wind conditions made it a thoroughly miserable day for both sides.
“You know, I”m sorry if they were cold,” Poloni said of his players. “But it was just as cold for Fort Bragg.”
While Kelseyville”s ground crew wet down the dirt infield during the game, it was pretty much a hopeless cause with the way the wind was blowing, according to Poloni.
“I think half of my infield is in the neighbor”s yard. When the ice storm blew threw it wasn”t as bad,” Poloni joked.
Losing pitcher Justin Lilly worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing nine runs, only two earned.
“Given the conditions, I thought he threw the ball pretty well,” Poloni said. “But they put the ball in play against us and watched us unravel.”
Mike Duman went 2-for-4 with a double and Rbi for Kelseyville. Dustin Panos also doubled and knocked in a run.
