KELSEYVILLE >> Kelseyville kept on scoring runs and the Upper Lake Cougars couldn’t keep up on Wednesday afternoon during a non-league softball game at Kelseyville High School.
While the visiting Cougars, who were making their season debut, did score three runs in the top of the third to tie the game at 3 and another in the fourth to tie the game at 4, the Knights went on to win 14-4 in five innings.
Just one day removed from a season-opening 6-3 loss at Healdsburg, the Knights, especially their younger players, weren’t quite as nervous at the plate, according to Kelseyville coach Jeff Bour.
“Their eyes weren’t as big … they calmed down a little bit and just swung the bat,” he said.
Kelseyville pounded out 12 hits in support of pitcher Morgan Profitt, who went the distance to record the victory. Profitt helped her own cause by going 2-for-2 while both Riley Goff and Taylor Paulich each added a pair of hits and RBIs.
One of the big differences between the two teams was defense. While the Cougars were throwing the ball around behind starting pitcher Julia Mooney to the tune of nine errors, the Knights had a single miscue in the field.
“We’re young, but the defense is pretty strong,” Bour said. “If we can get our pitcher to throw strikes and hit the ball as well as we hit it today, we’re going to be OK.”
Profitt walked six Upper Lake batters to go along with 10 strikeouts.
Upper Lake coach Kelly Coburn said the Cougars haven’t had a single practice yet with their full squad on the field because of a number of reasons, including Upper Lake’s participation in the sectional basketball playoffs, which ended just a week ago.
“We need more practice time,” she said. “It would be nice to just have everyone out there at the same time.”
Janee Swaney went 2-for-3 with a double for the Cougars while Ashley Aceves went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. LaShaye Taylor (1-for-2) also drove in a pair of runs.
Upper Lake returns to action Friday in Potter Valley at 3:30 p.m. Kelseyville’s next game is Wednesday in Upper Lake at 4 p.m.
