KELSEYVILLE — Mike Duman got the job done. That, after all, is what a staff ace does.
Time and time again for the Knights, Duman hasn”t disappointed in what has turned into a title-winning season for the Kelseyville High School varsity baseball team after its 1-0 victory over the Fort Bragg Timberwolves on Friday in Fort Bragg.
The league and regular-season finale for both teams was a must-win for the Knights (6-2, 16-8), who pulled even with the Timberwolves (6-2) atop the North Central League I North standings. As a result, the two co-champions will play again today in Fort Bragg (the Timberwolves won the coin flip for home field advantage) at 3:30 p.m. to decide who gets the league”s automatic berth in next week”s North Coast Section Division IV playoffs. The loser can still apply — and will likely receive — an at-large berth.
It was only four days ago that the Knights appeared to be out of the race following a 5-2 loss to Middletown, which dropped them to 5-2 in the league standings compared to Fort Bragg”s 6-0. But the Timberwolves were upset 8-6 at Willits on Thursday, putting Kelseyville back into the title picture.
“Considering where we were after Tuesday, it”s all gravy now,” Poloni said. “We threw a wrench in a lot of people”s plans today.”
Duman stopped the Timberwolves on three hits and worked out of three jams before improving to 8-3 on the season. He also struck out eight, giving him 78 strikeouts in 61 2/3 innings this season.
“He”s pitching like the guy we always knew he was,” Poloni said of the hard-throwing senior right-hander. “Duman was phenomenal.”
The game”s only run crossed the plate in the top of the seventh inning. Pinch-hitter Dustin Panos battled Fort Bragg pitcher Cody Lowe deep into the count before drawing a walk and Peter Wotherspoon sacrificed him to second base. An error on a pickoff play sent Panos to third base with Chris Augon — just called up from the junior varsity squad — at bat. Even with the infield playing in, the Timberwolves couldn”t choke off a run at the plate when Augon hit a slow roller to shortstop.
“Panos got a great break off third and their only play was to first,” Poloni said.
The bottom of the seventh was anything but routine as Fort Bragg”s first batter in the inning reached on a routine fly ball that was dropped for an error. He was erased at second base on a fielder”s choice grounder, but an errant pickoff throw sent the potential tying run around to third base with only one out.
Just as Fort Bragg had done in the top of the seventh, Kelseyville brought its infield in all the way around. The next Timberwolf hitter blooped the ball behind third base, but shortstop Mike Davis was able to run it down and double off the runner at third, who had broken for the plate, to end the game.
It wasn”t the only jam Duman and the Kelseyville defense worked its way out of during the game.
In the bottom of the second, the Timberwolves loaded the bases with one out only to watch the rally fizzle on a comebacker to the mound that Duman turned into a 1-2-3 double play.
Fort Bragg threatened again in the sixth, loading the bases with two outs, but Davis again flashed the leather, running down a grounder headed up the middle and throwing to first for the out on a bang-bang play, first baseman Justin Lilly scooping the ball out of the dirt.
While Duman shut out the Timberwolves on three hits, Lowe was nearly as effective, scattering four hits, striking out seven and walking two.
Three of Kelseyville”s four hits were doubles — by Augon, Lilly and Davis. Matt Jones had a single.
