UPPER LAKE — Gerald Thomas struck out 16 in the first game and freshman Jared Wade tossed a one-hitter in the second game on Tuesday as the Upper Lake Cougars swept the Round Valley Warriors in a non-league varsity baseball doubleheader at Upper Lake.
Upper Lake won the first game 10-3 and the nightcap 11-1 to improve to 3-0 on the season.
“I was surprised they did so phenomenally considering how cold it was,” Upper Lake coach Jim Green said of his two starting pitchers.
Thomas struck out the side in the first, third and seventh innings in game one. He also helped himself by going 2-for-4 at the plate with four RBIs. He tripled home two runs in the first inning and doubled home two more in the second.
Likewise Wade was efficient on the mound and at the plate in game two. He struck out eight, walked two and allowed one hit in the five-inning contest, which was called early because of the 10-run rule. The freshman southpaw also went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
Upper Lake”s defense played well in both games, according to Green. In fact, the Cougars turned a double play behind Thomas.
Lance McCloud had five hits on the day, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the opener and 2-for-3 with a double and RBI in game two. Cory Burnett went 3-for-4 with a RBI in game one.
“They did real well in terms of fundamentals,” Green said of the Cougars” performance.
In other baseball action Tuesday:
Middletown 13, Willows 3
At Middletown, Dylan Galusha pitched four solid innings to notch the victory and leadoff hitter Dylan Pastor went 3-for-4 with a triple, RBI and two runs as the Middletown Mustangs opened the season with a six-inning non-league win over Willows.
The game was called early because of the 10-run rule.
Galusha stopped the Honkers on three hits and both of the runs he allowed were unearned. He struck out three and walked one.
“Galusha was throwing the ball well,” Middletown coach Mitch Tucker said. “He pitched a 1-2-3 first and that set the tone.”
While Galusha was setting the tone, Pastor was setting the plate with his three hits. His teammates took advantage, too.
“I think we had five or six opportunities to drive in the runner from third with less than two outs and we did it every time,” Tucker said. “We put the ball in play when we needed to.”
Brett Humphrey went 1-for-4 with four RBIs. He grounded out to score a run in the first, singled home two more runs during a six-run fourth, and walked with the bases loaded in the sixth.
Austin Hunter also had two hits and two RBIs for the Mustangs (1-0).
