LOWER LAKE — Dustin Thaxton”s four-hitter and eight strikeouts propelled the Kelseyville Knights to a 5-1 victory over the Lower Lake Trojans in North Central League I varsity baseball action Tuesday in Lower Lake.
Thaxton”s fastball was clocked as high as 86 mph during the game. He had a 4-0 lead to work with before throwing his first pitch of the game.
Lower Lake (1-4 league, 6-6 overall) spotted an opponent a 4-0 lead in the first inning for the second day in a row (the Trojans lost 4-3 to Elsie Allen on Monday).
Losing pitcher Josh McCarty settled down after the first inning to limit Kelseyville (3-2, 4-5) to one run over the next four innings.
“McCarty was a little wild in the first inning and we took advantage of it,” Kelseyville coach Lou Poloni said
All four of McCarty”s walks came in the top of the first.
“We had only one hit in the inning,” Poloni said.
That was more than enough run support for Thaxton.
“That kid was impressive,” Lower Lake coach John Miller said. “He was around the plate the whole game.”
Playing his first game for the Knights, Jake Peters went 2-for-3 with a RBI. Luis Martinez went 2-for-3 for Lower Lake.
Lower Lake host Middletown on Friday and Kelseyville visits Willits.
