KELSEYVILLE — A dropped fly ball allowed the tying run to score in the top of the seventh and a two-out throwing error following a swinging strike three brought home what proved to be the game-winner Friday as Justin-Siena spoiled Kelseyville High School”s varsity baseball season opener with a 5-4 victory at Lloyd Larson Field.
“There were a lot of plusses and minuses,” Kelseyville coach Lou Poloni said of his team”s first effort in 2012. “To have a lead that late in a game against Justin-Siena (4-1) is a plus, but in my opinion we gave the game away in the top of the seventh, so that”s a minus.”
Hard-luck losing pitcher Dustin Thaxton pitched into the seventh inning, allowing the first two Justin-Siena hitters to reach on a single and walk, but he didn”t allowed an earned run all day.
“We”ve been worried about playing catch,” Poloni said. “That”s been a concern in our practices and we”ve spent a lot of time on it. If you make six errors you”re not going to win many games.”
Max Huff and Zack Bailey reached on infield singles in the bottom of the seventh – Bailey fouled off several two-strike pitches during his at-bat – and both runners were in scoring position with two outs when the game ended on a strikeout.
“Bailey fouled off like four pitches,” Poloni said. “That was a great at-bat.”
Kelseyville snapped a 3-3 tie with a run in the bottom of the fourth and it remained 4-3 in the Knights” favor until the top of the seventh. Thaxton, who went 5-1 for the Knights last year during a 17-8 campaign, struck out six and walked two.
“He threw a lot of pitches, a lot more than we wanted him to throw today,” Poloni said. Nic Vargas relieved him in the seventh and struck out two.
Huff (2-for-3) and Devon Call (2-for-4) led the Knights at the plate. Thaxton also homered to deep left in the bottom of the third.
“We”ve got the middle of our order back this year (Huff, Thaxton and Call),” Poloni said.
Kelseyville”s 2012 lineup is nearly an even split between seniors (seven) and juniors (nine). While a handful of seniors were crucial to the 2011 squad”s success, most notably Mike Davis, Poloni said this year”s club has plenty of talent and experience.
“I think we”ve probably got more (impact seniors) this year,” he said. “It”s tough to open against such a good team, but it”s early. We”ve just got to keep working.”
Will French went 3-for-4 for Justin-Siena, including a single against Thaxton to open the top of the seventh.
Grant Wright worked two innings in relief to notch the win for the Braves, who are once again being coach by Allen Rossi.
Kelseyville returns to action today at home against El Molino at 1 p.m. The Knights host Upper Lake on Wednesday and remain home a week from today to play St. Bernard of Eureka in a doubleheader scheduled to begin at noon.
