MIDDLETOWN >> Bib Hamner or Bib Hammer, take your pick.
As the No. 3 hitter in the Kelseyville High School softball team’s batting order, Hamner has been the hammer for the Knights this season and she was again on Saturday as Kelseyville beat Middletown 13-5 in North Central League I action at Middletown.
Hamner, who fell just a double shy of hitting for the cycle, went 3-for-5 with a triple and a home run, her fourth of the season, as the Knights improved to 7-5 in league play and 10-5 overall with two league games remaining – Wednesday at home against Cloverdale (11-2) and Thursday at home against Clear Lake (10-0).
“She’s so strong in the upper body, if she gets a hold of it it’s gone,” Middletown coach Barry Glosser said of Hamner’s three-run shot in the top of the sixth, a ball that cleared the fence in right field and put the game out of reach at 10-3. “She’s one hell of a hitter.”
Hamner tripled home a run in the top of the first, singled leading off the third, bounced into a fielder’s choice in the fourth, homered in the sixth and, needing a double for the cycle, bounced out to first base in the seventh.
The Knights had 15 hits in all, a number that seemed impossible earlier in the season for a club that was struggling to score runs.
“Confidence is huge, especially for a young team,” Kelseyville coach Jeff Bour said. “Today we were starting five sophomores and one freshman.”
Hamner, the Knights’ first baseman, is one of those sophomores. Brendelyn Pelzel, who bats in front of Hamner in the Kelseyville order, went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Four other Knights had two hits apiece – Bailey Couey (2-for-5), Morgan Profitt (2-for-4, RBI), Tymeka Green (2-for-3, double, two RBIs) and Taylor Paulich (2-for-4, double, RBI). Profitt and Pelzel are the only seniors in that group.
Kelseyville scored four times in the top of the first inning and never looked back. The Knights added three more runs in the third for a 7-2 lead.
Profitt, the winning pitcher, allowed just four hits and three earned runs. She struck out five and walked four.
Losing pitcher Olivia Glosser struck out seven and walked three. She also went 1-for-3 at the plate. Kenzie Harris, who doubled, Aly Fergurson and Hannah Flynn had the only other Middletown hits.
Middletown (3-9, 8-11) hosts Fort Bragg today and travels to Fort Bragg on Wednesday to close out its season.
