UPPER LAKE >> While the Upper Lake High School varsity baseball team made strides toward becoming more competitive in 2016, the young Cougars certainly experienced their fair share of growing pains this past season.
Led by head coach E.J. Crandell, Upper Lake finished near the bottom of the North Central League II standings at 3-9 and the Cougars were just 3-15 overall. The good news is that the majority of Crandell’s players, including most of his starters, return next season. The other good news is that three players on this year’s roster — two juniors and a senior — have been named to the All-League team as selected by the league’s coaches.
While the Cougars had no players honored on the first team, two players did end up on the second team — junior pitcher/infielder Francisco Gregorio-Flores and junior catcher/pitcher Will Santos.
Earning an honorable mention was Upper Lake senior infielder/catcher/pitcher Anthony Percival.
League champion St. Vincent and runner-up Sonoma Academy dominated the All-League selections this season. Co-MVPs were Sonoma Academy senior pitcher/infielder Dylan De La Montanya and St. Vincent senior pitcher/infielder Liam Galten.
Of the eight players named to the All-League first team, seven were from either St. Vincent or Sonoma Academy.
