UPPER LAKE — The Upper Lake Cougars rallied with nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to upend the Potter Valley Bearcats, 13-7, in a non-league varsity baseball game on Tuesday in Upper Lake.
It was the second meeting in eight days between the two teams. Potter Valley spoiled Upper Lake”s season opener with a 3-0 victory last week in Potter Valley, but the rematch on Tuesday was anything but a pitcher”s duel. Bearcats relievers walked nine batters in the bottom of the sixth and also allowed four run-scoring hits as the Cougars (2-1) overcame a 6-4 deficit.
Upper Lake also played some defense, cutting down three runners at the plate in the first four innings. Two of the plays were 9-3-2 putouts, right fielder Nick Bills throwing to cutoff man Jared Wade at first base, and Wade relaying the ball home to catcher Alex Castillo. Center fielder Gage DeHeer also threw a one-hop strike to Castillo in the third inning to nail a Potter Valley runner.
“The kids played real solid defense,” Upper Lake coach Jim Green said of his team”s second win in a row.
Upper Lake scored in the bottom of the fifth to snap a 3-3 tie and briefly take a 4-3 lead. Potter Valley answered with three runs in the top of the sixth to go up 6-4 before the Cougars came to the plate in the bottom of the inning.
Wesley Thaxton doubled home two runs in the nine-run sixth and Castillo, Larry Stacey and Stoney Timmons added RBI singles. Castillo (2-for-2) also tripled and drew an intentional walk in the game. Timmons finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
The win went to reliever Chris Colon, who entered the game in the top of the fifth with the score tied at 3. He worked the final three innings, allowing four runs on one hit with four strikeouts and six walks.
“These kids are playing with a lot of heart,” Green said. “If they stay together they might do something this school has never done (win a pennant in baseball).”
Upper Lake returns to action today at 3:30 p.m. in Middletown.
