MIDDLETOWN — Kyle Brown faced just two batters over the minimum during the final five innings of his complete-game effort Friday afternoon as Middletown beat the Willits Wolverines 5-2 in North Central League I varsity baseball action at Wes Martin Field.
It was the league opener for Middletown (1-0, 5-5) and their first game since dropping a non-league doubleheader to Arcata by a combined score of 35-2 a week earlier in Middletown.
While Middletown pitching walked or hit a combined 27 batters in 11 innings against Arcata, that wasn”t the case against Willits (0-2). Brown, 4-2, struck out eight, walked none and didn”t hit a batter while fashioning a five-hitter. He retired the side in order in the third, fourth and sixth innings and faced just four batters in each of the fifth and seventh innings. He threw 108 pitches overall.
“I always know I”m going to get balls down in the zone,” Middletown coach Mitch Tucker said in describing a typical Brown start. “He”s gone two games without (issuing) a walk.”
Coming off a 14-4 loss to Kelseyville a day earlier, Willits did its only damage against Brown in the top of first, scoring both of its runs after two were out. Middletown came right back with four runs in the bottom half.
Logan Smith led off with a walk for the Mustangs, Jack Hamilton singled and Luke Humphrey reached on a bunt single (while trying to sacrifice the runners along) to load the bases. Brad Bologna worked the count full before drawing a walk that forced home Smith. Jake Tucker”s sacrifice fly to center field on an 0-2 pitch scored Hamilton to make it a 2-2 game. Middletown then pushed ahead to stay on Blaine Amos” two-out, two-run single into right field.
Brown struck out Willits” No. 3 hitter with runners at second and third to work out of a jam in the top of the second. Middletown added to its lead in the bottom of the inning with an unearned run, the result of two Willits errors following a lead-off single by Graham Brown.
Seven different Mustangs had one hit apiece. Joe Sasso went 2-for-4 for Willits and James Arms went 1-for-3 with a RBI. Losing pitcher Robbie Elder worked four-plus innings.
Middletown plays at Fort Bragg on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
