LOWER LAKE –Throwing only 28 pitches over the first three innings, Kelseyville High School”s Justin Lilly made sure his defense didn”t spend too much time in the hot sun on Tuesday as the Knights blanked the Lower Lake Trojans 10-0 in a North Central League I North varsity baseball game at Lower Lake.
On the warmest day of the season to date, Lilly combined with reliever Matt Jones on a two-hitter as the Knights improved to 2-1 in the North standings and 12-6 overall. Lilly worked the first six innings and allowed both Lower Lake hits — singles to Jesus Fonseca and Richard Gutierrez. Jones finished up, striking out two and walking one in the seventh.
“He was pumping strikes in there, they were putting the ball in play and we were making plays,” Kelseyville coach Lou Poloni said of Lilly”s day on the mound.
Kelseyville didn”t make an error behind Lilly, who struck out five and walked two.
“Lilly threw a great game,” Lower Lake coach Chris Emberson said. “And they (Knights) hit the ball hard. (Mike) Davis, that guy slugged the ball.”
Davis doubled and scored four times for Kelseyville.
The Knights jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning and gradually built their advantage to 7-0 with single runs in the second, third and fourth.
“I was happy to see that,” Poloni said of the Knights continuing to add to their lead. “You don”t want to let a team hang around. I thought we went out and took care of business.”
“It”s hard for us to come back when we get down like that,” Emberson said of the Knights” four-run first.
Lower Lake (0-2, 3-10) did turn a 6-4-3 double play in the third inning.
Mike Duman went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to pace the Knights, winners of three straight. Mike DeGregorio went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Ryan Cockerton went 2-for-4 with a RBI.
In other action Tuesday:
Fort Bragg 9, Middletown 3
At Middletown, the Fort Bragg Timb-erwolves improved to 3-0 in the NCL I North standings with a hard-fought victory over the Middletown Mustangs, who were tied at 3 with the Timberwolves through four innings.
Fort Bragg snapped the tie with an unearned run in the top of the fifth before pulling away with two runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh.
“I”m disappointed,” Middletown coach Mitch Tucker said. “They”re a good team but we”re every bit as good if we just play better. It was not a well-played game by us.”
The game was temporarily halted when a REACH helicopter landed nearby to transport a Middletown softball player (see story, Page 1) to the U.C. Davis Medical Center after she collided with a teammate in the outfield.
One bright spot for the Mustangs, according to Tucker, was third baseman Dan Sallee, who shined at the plate and in the field. He went 4-for-4 with a RBI to spark Middletown”s offense.
“And he made some great plays at third base,” Tucker said.
Eric Schenck went 2-for-4 with a RBI for Middletown and John Hays went 1-for-3 with a double.
Middletown returns to action Friday in Kelseyville at 4 p.m. The winner will remain a game behind undefeated Fort Bragg in the North standings.
