FORESTVILLE — The Kelseyville Knights put plenty of pressure on the El Molino Lions in the first inning of their non-league varsity baseball game Saturday in Forestville.
The Lions also put plenty of pressure on themselves, suffering a partial meltdown of sorts in a 12-2 loss to the Knights.
With both teams competing in the same division for playoff purposes, the game took on more importance than most non-league contests. Kelseyville, the North Central League I North leader, improved to 12-5 overall while El Molino, a member of the Sonoma County League, slipped to 8-11.
Kelseyville staked winning pitcher Mike Davis to a 5-0 lead before he had thrown his first pitch, and Davis, the leadoff hitter for the Knights, figured prominently in thet five-run uprising in the top of the first.
“It was a real bizarre start,” Kelseyville coach Lou Poloni said.
Davis led off with a single and got picked off first base. However, he survived a five-thrown rundown when the base umpire called an El Molino player for obstruction.
“They (El Molino bench) were hot about that (call),” Poloni said. “A lot of stuff was said.”
When play resumed, Chris Aguon hit a chopper over the mound that the El Molino shortstop mishandled for an error. He made contact with the base umpire as he was fielding the ball and was ejected, according to Poloni.
“The kid claimed the contact was an accident but the base umpire didn”t think so,” Poloni said. “That was one of their best players.”
As the Lions were unraveling, the Knights made the most of the opportunity. RBI singles by Devon Call, Max Huff and Blake Sedrick made it 3-0, and Nic Vargas” two-run single pushed the lead to 5-0.
The Knights increased their advantage to 8-0 with a two-out rally in the top of the second, the big blow a bases-loaded triple into the left-center field gap by John-Mark Reagan.
An eight-run cushion proved to be more than enough support for Davis on the mound. He allowed two unearned runs in the bottom of the second but was untouchable the rest of the way, according to Poloni.
“He was absolutely bringing it,” Poloni said of Davis” fastball. “He also had control of his slider. I haven”t seen anyone pitch that hard for us or against us all season.”
Davis allowed just two hits, struck out five and walked four. He also went 2-for-4 at the plate.
Kelseyville added two runs in the fifth and two more in the seventh.
Dustin Thaxton, red-hot of late for the Knights, led the way with a 4-for-5 day that included two RBIs. Call and Huff also had two hits apiece.
“(Assistant coach) Brian Hanson has been working tirelessly with these guys on their swings and his hard work and their hard work is beginning to pay off,” Poloni said.
Kelseyville, 4-0 in the NCL I North standings, opens the second half of its league schedule today at home against the Lower Lake Trojans at 4 p.m. The Knights then hit the road Friday to play the Middletown Mustangs.
