RICHMOND >> Kelseyville High School softball coach Jeff Bour said his young Knights enjoyed their first taste of postseason play on Wednesday afternoon despite finishing on the wrong end of a 12-2 decision to St. Mary’s of Albany in the opening round of the North Coast Section Division IV softball playoffs at Salesian High School in Richmond.
Kelseyville (10-8) returns all but senior Brendelyn Pelzel next season and Bour said he fully expects his Knights to be in the mix again and more competitive.
“It was a nice experience for them,” Bour said. “They know they can play with them. I was proud of them all.”
St. Mary’s, a first-round loser to Lower Lake in last year’s Division IV tournament, made the most of the 12 walks issued by Kelseyville pitching. However, the Knights actually had more hits (eight to St. Mary’s six) led by Kailani Brown, who went 2-for-3, and Bib Hamner, who went 1-for-3 with a double and a RBI.
“We left a lot of runners on base,” Bour said of numerous early scoring opportunities that yielded nothing. “We had the bases loaded one inning and the girl at third got picked off.”
St. Mary’s had a 12-0 lead going to the top of the fifth when Kelseyville scored both of its runs, not quite enough to avoid the 10-run rule.
Tymeka Green pitched the first 2 2/3 innings for the Knights and took the loss. She allowed two hits, struck out one and walked seven. Payton Conrad relieved her and went 1 1/3 innings. She gave up four hits, struck out one and walked five.
“I was pleased with Tymeka and Payton for doing the best they could given our pitching situation,” Bour said.
St. Mary’s advances to Saturday’s quarterfinal round against Berean Christian of Walnut Creek.
