KELSEYVILLE >> The Kelseyville Knights had their moments but no momentum — also known as mojo — in a Saturday morning game at Lloyd Larson Field. That belonged to the Healdsburg Greyhounds — also known as the ’Hounds — who used a fourth-inning grand slam by third baseman Levi Yeley to beat the Knights 6-4 in a non-league varsity baseball game.
The defeat, the first for Kelseyville in four games, followed a tense 1-0 home win in nine innings over Arcata on Friday. Kelseyville head coach Lou Poloni suggested that being drained emotionally in the Arcata game only hours earlier could have been a contributing factor in the loss to the Greyhounds, who the Knights play again today in Healdsburg.
“Offensively we were one hit away (from winning) a couple of times today,” Poloni said. “We gave up the big crooked number, but I do like the way we responded. We put up three and that will put you right back into the ballgame.”
The “crooked number” Poloni referred to was a five-spot that the ’Hounds scored in their big fourth inning, breaking up a scoreless tie to that point. Shortstop Zack Vellery singled home the first run of the game for Healdsburg (5-2), which was followed by another single by second baseman Jacob Pruitt to load the bases for Yeley, who connected against losing pitcher Noah Lyndall, sending the ball over the left-field partition 281 feet away.
Kelseyville did indeed respond by scoring three times in the home half of the fourth, beginning with a solo home run by Logan Barrick, which was even longer than Yeley’s.
The home runs by Yeley and Barrick were the first of their high school careers in both cases.
Third baseman Zack Villalobos and left fielder Nick Pfann also scored in the third to make it 5-3.
Healdsburg move out to a 6-3 lead in the top of the sixth. The Knights closed to 6-4 in the seventh but left the bases loaded as Villalobos hit a fly ball to left to end the game.
The Knights also couldn’t pull the trigger when they loaded the bases in the third.
“We know we’re going to swing the bat a lot better than we did today,” Poloni said. “We have a lot of power.”
Pitching-wise Lyndall was not sharp, Poloni said of his senior veteran. “He obviously struggled.”
Lyndall made it through five innings but allowed six hits and six runs (five earned). He struck out six but also walked six.
“Noah obviously struggled … he’s a lot better than that,” Poloni said.
Overall Poloni said the game was a bit of a letdown after Friday’s sweet victory against Arcata.
“It felt a lot like dog poop in the mouth today, especially after the emotional win over Arcata,” he said.
Healdsburg beat Clear Lake 5-3 later Saturday in Lakeport.
Poloni said it was nice meeting up again with Healdsburg head coach Justin Herrguth, who played for Poloni at Healdsburg in the 1990s.
“We’ve always stayed close and they always give us a good game,” Poloni said.
Kelseyville’s game tonight in Healdsburg begins at 7 p.m. under the lights at Recreation Park.
