MIDDLETOWN — It”s crowded atop the North Central League I North softball standings as the final days of the 2009 regular season count down.
Middletown High School pulled into a three-way tie for the league lead on Monday with a 15-2 victory over the Willits Wolverines, who upset the Mustangs 7-6 last month in the league opener for both teams.
Middletown, Kel-seyville and Fort Bragg are all tied at 4-2, each team with two games remaining. Either Middletown or Kelseyville will be alone in first after they meet today in Middletown at 4 p.m. Fort Bragg is idle, its final two games on Thursday (against Willits) and Friday (against Kelseyville).
The Mustangs took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the third inning against Willits and promptly reeled off eight runs to put the game out of reach. It was called after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.
Part of Middletown”s big eight-run third was an inside-the-park grand slam by Kim Nielsen, who smacked a hard grounder all the way to the center field fence. The ball was hit so hard, according to Middletown coach Lisa Rogers, that the Willits center fielder, who was shaded over into left field, was unable to cut it off before it rolled to the fence.
Jessica Roush went 3-for-4 with a RBI and scored three times for the Mustangs, who improved to 10-9 overall. Kayla Dilks went 2-for-4 with a RBI and Alicia Siri went 1-for-3 with three RBIs.
Winning pitcher Jen Emberson struck out two and walked none.
