MIDDLETOWN — Johnny Wignall blanked the Middletown Mustangs on two hits and the St. Helena Saints pulled into a tie for first atop the North Central League I varsity baseball standings with a 9-0 victory on Friday afternoon at Middletown High School.
Five errors in the field didn”t help the Mustangs (2-2 league, 8-4), who have now dropped two in a row following a seven-game winning streak.
“We made way too many mistakes,” Middletown coach Mitch Tucker said. “St. Helena does a good job of putting pressure on you. They like to steal and take the extra base.”
Wignall, who struck out nine and walked only one, allowed a single to Brad Bologna in the bottom of the fourth and a single to Reid Carpenter in the fifth.
“We didn”t make adjustments to Wignall today,” Tucker said. “Don”t get me wrong, the kid threw well and I give him all the credit, but we”ve got to try to go the other way against him a little bit and we didn”t do that.”
Danny Brink had three of St. Helena”s 10 hits. Wignall also helped himself with a single and two RBIs.
Middletown starting pitcher Logan Smith worked the first five innings and allowed six runs — three earned — on nine hits. He struck out two and didn”t walk a batter but did hit two. Blaine Amos finished up.
The Saints improved to 3-0 in the NCL I standings and are tied with Clear Lake (3-0). Both teams are a half-game ahead of Kelseyville (2-0).
