LOWER LAKE >> Antonio Padilla’s bases-loaded triple and four RBIs overall helped power the Lower Lake High School junior varsity baseball team to a 13-0 victory in five innings over the St. Helena Saints in North Central League I action on Friday afternoon in Lower Lake.
While the school’s varsity program continues to struggle, the JVs under head coach Jim Peters are solidly in the black this season after winning the league title a year ago. The victory over the Saints moves Lower Lake to 8-4 in league play with two games remaining and 13-5 overall.
“If we win our final two we’ll be 10-4 for the second year in a row,” Peters said. “Last year we finished 10-4 and won the league. This year we’ll be third (behind Middletown and Fort Bragg).”
In a game called after 4 ½ innings because of the 10-run mercy rule, the Trojans scored in every at-bat. They led 3-0 after the first, 5-0 after the second and 7-0 after the third before putting the game away with a six-run fourth that featured Padilla’s triple, a blast into left-center field that followed intentional walks to two teammates.
Jack Mitcham went 3-for-3 with two RBIs for the Trojans, who played with the minimum nine players after lending a player to the varsity for its game with St. Helena on Friday. Austin Oranje reached base in all four of his plate appearances, going 1-for-1 and drawing three walks. He also scored four times.
Mike Taliaferro relieved Bryan Fonseca to start the top of the second and blanked the Saints on two hits over the final four innings. He struck out three and walked none. Taliaferro also had a hit and drove in a run.
Lower Lake closes out league play and its season schedule on Tuesday with a home doubleheader against Willits. The first game starts at 2 p.m.
