LOWER LAKE — The North Central League I North softball opener for the Lower Lake Trojans didn”t last very long. The Fort Bragg Timberwolves made sure of that.
Fort Bragg, a perennial power in the North division, beat Lower Lake 13-1 in five innings on Tuesday afternoon in Lower Lake.
“We just didn”t make the routine plays,” Lower Lake coach Tim Sherrell said of a six-run Fort Bragg first inning fueled by three Lower Lake errors.
Katlyn Mintel knocked in a run with a grounder in the top of the fifth for Lower Lake”s only run. Fort Bragg answered with five runs in the bottom of the fifth and the game was then called because of the 10-run mercy rule.
Fort Bragg improved to 6-1 overall, its only loss coming at the hands of the Clear Lake Cardinals earlier this month. Lower Lake fell to 2-6.
Losing pitcher Kristen Garcia worked all five innings, allowing 12 hits, striking out three and walking three.
Kaitlyn Spooner went 1-for-2 with a double for the Trojans, who had only three hits. Mintel and Raelynn Scott had the other hits.
The Trojans did turn a 6-3-5 double play and they also threw out a runner at the plate.
Spooner, the team”s center fielder, ran down a number of well-struck fly balls, according to Sherrell.
“She played a great game,” Sherrell said.
Lower Lake returns to action Friday at home against Kelseyville (0-1, 1-5) at 4 p.m.
