KELSEYVILLE — Kelseyville”s bats finally came alive in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Knights couldn”t catch the St. Vincent Mustangs, 9-5 winners in a North Central League I interlock varsity baseball game on Thursday at Lloyd Larson Field in Kelseyville.
Kelseyville, fighting for a berth in next week”s North Coast Section Division IV playoffs, pushed across four runs in the bottom of the seventh and had the tying run in the on-deck circle when the game ended.
“We were still fighting and the guys were still talking positive stuff,” Kelseyville coach Lou Poloni said.
Kelseyville (15-8) wraps up its regular season today in Fort Bragg (6-1) against the Timberwolves, the final NCL I North game for both teams. A win would give the Knights (5-2) a share of the title following Fort Bragg”s 8-6 loss to Willits on Thursday. If the two teams finish in a tie, they”ll hold a one-game playoff Saturday to determine who gets the league”s automatic playoff berth.
In Thursday”s action, St. Vincent parlayed two Kelseyville errors into a three-run top of the second, then put the game away with a four-run third that also was set up by a Kelseyville miscue in the field.
“They hit a double play ball and we booted it,” Poloni said. “That loaded the bases and the next guy hit a grand slam.”
Jon Patton”s blast pushed St. Vincent”s lead to 7-0. He finished the game 2-for-3 with five RBIs.
Kelseyville starting pitcher Mike Davis worked the first three innings and allowed seven runs — all unearned. He allowed three hits, struck out six and walked five.
“Davis threw the ball the best I”ve ever seen him throw the ball, but we made some big errors behind him,” Poloni said.
Matt Jones went 2-for-3 with a RBI for the Knights, Davis went 2-for-4, and Mike Duman and Ryan Cockerton each had a hit and two RBIs.
In other action Thursday:
Clear Lake 8, St. Helena 7
At St. Helena, winning pitcher Christian Coddington homered to tie the game at 6 in the top of the sixth inning and his RBI infield single in the top of the seventh snapped a 7-7 and lifted the Clear Lake Cardinals past the St. Helena Saints in NCL I South action.
Clear Lake (4-4, 13-8-1) will apply for an at-large berth in next week”s North Coast Section Division IV playoffs. The field will be announced Sunday.
Coddington, working in relief of starting pitcher Ryan Hansford, pitched three innings of one-hit ball. He went 2-for-3 at the plate.
“That was one of the longest home runs I”ve ever seen,” Clear Lake coach Paul Larrea said of Coddington”s smash to left field leading off the sixth. “I think it”s in Napa.”
Noel McCormack went 1-for-3 with three RBIs for the Cardinals. Catcher Tyler Beets went 2-for-4 and threw out a runner trying to advance to third on a ball in the dirt to end the game.
Cloverdale 14, Upper Lake 1
At Cloverdale, winning pitcher Mitch Delfino struck out five in two innings and the Cloverdale Eagles, NCL I South champs, closed out their regular season with a lopsided win over the Upper Lake Cougars.
Upper Lake (0-8, 3-18) had just one hit, a fourth-inning single by losing pitcher Anthony Driscoll.
“I”m happy with these guys for the most part with the effort they gave me,” Upper Lake coach Greg Smith said. “Our goal was to be better at the end of the season than we were at the start and I think we accomplished that. I think they definitely improved.”
Softball
St. Vincent 7, Kelseyville 4
At Kelseyville, St. Vincent pitcher Kelsey Joyce carried a shutout into the seventh inning before the Kelseyville Knights rallied for four runs in their non-league loss to the Mustangs.
“We waited too long,” Kelseyville coach Greg Giusti said. “Too little too late.”
Joyce struck out 10 and walked four.
“We got statued up there and took too many called third strikes. In the seventh we relaxed and put some hits together.”
Sarah Johnson went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs and Monique Santana also had two hits for Kelseyville (8-14), which closes out its season today in Fort Bragg with a NCL I North game against the Timberwolves. Fort Bragg (4-3) dropped a 4-2 decision to Willits on Thursday, allowing idle Middletown (6-2) to clinch the undisputed North title.
Kelseyville started the St. Vincent game with an all-freshmen battery of pitcher Sabrina Lyon and catcher Kenzy Gould. Lyon worked four-plus innings and took the loss.
“They played very well,” Giusti said.
Cloverdale 16, Upper Lake 0
At Cloverdale, the Upper Lake Cougars managed only one hit, a single by Jackie Lovrin, and lost to the Cloverdale Eagles in NCL I South action.
Upper Lake finishes the season 0-8 in league play and 5-13 overall.
Cloverdale improved to 3-4 and hosts St. Helena today in its league finale.
