KELSEYVILLE >> New season, new sport, same ‘ol Kyle Ellis.
Kelseyville High School’s junior shortstop, best known for his exploits on the basketball hardwood where he sank 74 treys during the 2015-16 season, buried another 3-ball on Friday, this one of the baseball variety.
Ellis’ one-out RBI triple into the right-center field gap in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Kelseyville Knights to a dramatic 1-0 victory over the Arcata Tigers at Lloyd Larson Field, where Ellis was mobbed at home plate by teammates after knocking in teammate Adrian Villalobos, who singled to open the inning.
“We dogpiled Kyle Ellis,” Kelseyville head coach Lou Poloni said of the game-ending celebration.
While Ellis delivered the game-winning hit and Villalobos, making his varsity debut as a freshman, motored home with the game’s lone run, there were plenty of heroes for the Knights, not the least of which was junior pitcher Logan Barrick, who weaved a complete-game, five-hit gem, throwing only 98 pitches in the process. Barrick struck out eight and walked none.
“He threw fastball, curve ball and changeup for strikes and he had command of all three,” Poloni said. “He worked ahead in the count all game.”
Had the game moved on to a 10th inning, Barrick would have started it, according to Poloni.
“The thing with Logan is he’s really strong and doesn’t get sore,” Poloni said.
Arcata starter Wyatt Tucker was every bit as good on the mound. He worked eight shutout innings for a no-decision, allowed just three hits, struck out 15 and walked one.
“He throws 84 (mph), 85 and has a college slider,” Poloni said of the senior.
Jordan Smith relieved Tucker to open the Kelseyville ninth. Villalobos, the only hitter in the Kelseyville lineup not to strike out at least once, lined the first pitch he saw from Smith into right field. One out later, Ellis connected on a 1-0 pitch to win the game.
Arcata threatened in the fourth, eighth and ninth innings, but between Barrick and a Kelseyville defense that committed just one error the Tigers were denied each time.
The Knights (3-0) turned two double plays and threw out a runner trying to score from second base on a single in the fourth. Left fielder Nick Pfann fielded the ball and threw home to brother Randy Pfann, who applied the tag.
“We played the best defense we’ve played in probably two years,” Poloni said.
Kelseyville’s only real scoring opportunity until the ninth came in the bottom of the first with runners at first and third and one out. Sambhava Baird smacked a hard grounder that struck teammate Noah Lyndall between first and second base.
“The umpire said he heard the ball hit him, but I didn’t see it,” Poloni said.
Lyndall was called out and the ball was dead at that point, meaning the runner at third base had to remain there. The next batter grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.
Kelseyville hosts Healdsburg today at 10 a.m.
