LOWER LAKE — Injured early in the season, Lower Lake High School pitcher Kristen Garcia survived a rough first inning to beat the Middletown Mustangs 11-4 on Wednesday in a North Central League I North softball game at Lower Lake.
Garcia tossed a two-hitter, struck out five and walked two as Lower Lake improved to 2-1 in the North standings and 5-6 overall. The Trojans have won three of their last four.
Middletown”s only two hits and one of Garcia”s two walks came in the top of the first as the Mustangs (1-2, 4-9) jumped out to a 4-0 lead, albeit a short-lived one. Lower Lake promptly answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning.
“It looked like it was going to be a high-scoring game,” Lower Lake coach Tim Sherrell said.
But Garcia settled down to pitch a gem, gaining velocity and movement on her pitches, especially her rise ball, as the game progressed.
“She got stronger as the game went along, which was good to see,” Sherrell said.
Garcia was backed by some solid defense, especially from left fielder Adrina Miller, who made three catches to thwart potential Middletown rallies, including one in the fifth inning when she caught a fading line drive near the line.
“She did a great job,” Sherrell said.
After a high-scoring start, the 4-4 tie endured until the bottom of the sixth when the Trojans struck for their final seven runs. A RBI single by Garcia (2-for-3) opened the scoring in the inning and a bases-loaded double by Katelyn Spooner (2-for-4) pushed a 7-4 lead to 10-4.
“That was the big hit,” Sherrell said.
Selena Ledesma went 3-for-5 with a RBI to power a 12-hit Lower Lake attack. In fact, it was Ledesma”s lead-off single in the bottom of the first that sparked the Trojans” four-run uprising.
“It”s tough to overcome those four runs but the girls did it,” Sherrell said of coming back from a 4-0 deficit.
“It”s nice to see us playing the kind of ball we”re capable of playing,” Sherrell added.
Rachel Sutton had a two-run single in the top of the first for Middletown. Roshell Dunlap had the Mustangs” only other hit.
Track
At Calistoga, Middletown, Point Arena and Willits joined host Calistoga in a four-team Coastal Mountain Conference meet. Middletown scored against Willits and dominated both the boys” (72-37) and girls” (90-35) divisions.
In boys” action, Danny Hulme won the 100-meter dash in 11.62 seconds and the 200 in 24.08. He also ran the second leg on Middletown”s winning 4×100 relay team (46.73 seconds), joining teammates Tanner Alves, Collin Breeden and Matt Hennion.
Alves also won two individual events, claiming the 400 (54.78) and long jump (19 feet, 1 inches). Breeden cleared 5-4 to win the high jump.
Other Middletown winners were Barrett Southern in the 110 high hurdles (19.65), Nick Santos in the 300 intermediate hurdles (47.3) and Hector Cruz in the discus (95-5).
In girls” action, Miriam Lane broke her own school record in the 1,600, crossing the finish line in 6:02, three seconds faster than her previous best. She also won the 3,200 in 14:06.
Emily Reed also picked up two individual firsts, clearing 13-8 in the long jump and 28-11 ? in the triple jump. She also ran the final leg on Middletown”s winning 4×400 team (5:16). Brianna Ortiz, Paloma Colacion and Kelly Wilkinson ran the first three legs.
Other Middletown winners were Brittany Cash in the 100 (13.89), Angela Gattoni in the 800 (2:53), Amber Hart in the 100 low hurdles (19.27) and Amber Ramponi in the high jump (4-6). The Mustangs” 4×100 team of Ramponi, Wilkinson, Aly Mino and Cash added another first in 54.61.
“Reed did really well in all of her events,” Middletown coach Louise Owens said. “She PRd in both, I think. Hart is coming along really well, too.”
On the boys” side, Owens praised the efforts of Alves and Hulme.
Middletown competes next Wednesday in Lakeport.
Tennis
St. Helena 5, Clear Lake 0
At Lakeport, the Clear Lake High School tennis team closed out the regular season with a 5-0 loss to the St. Helena Saints in Coastal Mountain Conference action.
Next up for both teams is the CMC Championship tournament Monday and Tuesday at Mendocino College in Ukiah.
In singles action, Teddy Ulin beat Andreina Guedez 6-3, 6-2, Kyle Jimenez defeated Gabriela Reyes 6-3, 6-4, and Alec Fetzer beat Kenny Henninger 6-1, 6-2.
In doubles play, Callie Flood and Sarah Gamble rallied to beat Darcy McCarrick and Clhoe Rojas 3-6, 6-3, 10-5 in first doubles. David Martinez and Cole Ballentine defeated Raul Rendon and Tamara Rojas 6-2, 6-2 in second doubles.
