MIDDLETOWN >> Jack Sisson’s three-run home run capped a four-run Middletown rally in the fifth inning and the Mustangs went on to beat the Clear Lake Cardinals 5-3 in North Central League I junior varsity baseball action on Wednesday afternoon in Middletown.
Both teams brought 2-0 league records into the game and were coming off lopsided victories a day earlier.
“It was a good, clean game,” Middletown coach Jon Hoogendoorn said. “Both teams played well and there wasn’t any trash talking.”
Clear Lake held a 3-1 lead going to the bottom of the fifth, but the Mustangs had a 5-3 lead four batters later. Nico Barrio got things rolling with a leadoff triple.
“He absolutely crushed the ball,” Hoogendoorn said. “That was the one that got us going and the other guys took care of business.”
Drake Harbison singled home Barrio to make it a 3-2 game and winning pitcher Cameron Luis followed with another single. Sisson then cleared the bases with a three-run shot to center field.
Jimmy Rockwell relieved Luis to open the sixth and pitched two scoreless innings to record the save. He struck out five and walked none. Luis had six strikeouts and two walks during his five-inning stint.
Sisson (2-for-4) also had a double for Middletown while driving in four runs. Luis went 2-for-3 with a RBI.
“I think Clear Lake is really going to do some damage,” Hoogendoorn said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the league title was on the line when we played them again (May 2 in Lakeport).”
Middletown has four games scheduled next week. The Mustangs are home against St. Helena on Tuesday, at Healdsburg for a non-league game on Wednesday, at Willits for a league game on Friday, and home against Piner in a non-league game April 15.
