UPPER LAKE >>Mike Taliaferro pitched 4 1/3 innings of relief to notch the victory as the Lower Lake High School junior varsity baseball team tuned up for the remainder of its North Central League I schedule with a 16-2 non-league win over the Upper Lake Cougars on Wednesday afternoon in Upper Lake.
It was a good opportunity for Lower Lake coach Jim Peters to play everyone as the Trojans, now 8-3 overall, had the game well in hand after one inning with a 5-0 lead.
Lower Lake starter pitcher Antonio Padilla, who has almost no pitching experience, worked only two-thirds of an inning before giving way to Taliaferro, who allowed both of Upper Lake’s runs, only one of which was earned. He allowed just three hits, struck out five and walked two.
The Trojans pounded out 14 hits at the plate and six different players drove in runs. Izzac Carver led the way by going 3-for-4 with a double and a RBI, Jack Mitcham went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Gage Thayer went 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI, and Austin Oranje went 2-for-4 with a RBI.
Lower Lake scored five runs in three different innings during the five-inning game.
Weather permitting, the Trojans are scheduled to play Willits on Friday in Willits at 4 p.m.
