LAKE COUNTY >> Weather permitting, high school spring sports arrive in full force next week as Lake County baseball and softball teams who haven’t already opened the season get things rolling with games scattered across the Redwood Empire.
A handful of teams swing into action starting Friday when Clear Lake hosts McKinleyville, Upper Lake visits Lower Lake and Middletown travels to St. Vincent in varsity baseball action. Also on Friday, Upper Lake hosts Esparto in softball.
In Saturday action, Kelseyville hosts McKinleyville in a varsity baseball doubleheader while Lower Lake softball scrimmages at Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa.
On Monday, Lower Lake baseball visits Arbuckle to play Pierce, and Tuesday’s schedule features Piner at Middletown and Lower Lake at Healdsburg in softball.
There is at least one game scheduled every day next week, including Kelseyville’s softball season-opening doubleheader against El Molino in Forestville on March 10.
Upper Lake baseball opened its season last week with a 12-1 win over Calistoga that featured a no-hitter by winning pitcher Armando Santos. Middletown softball and new coach Bob Gunion open their season Thursday in Petaluma against St. Vincent. Clear Lake softball’s season opener is March 8 at El Molino. Kelseyville baseball was home Wednesday to play Upper Lake in baseball action (results weren’t available as the Record-Bee went to press).
While the county’s spring teams have enjoyed mostly sunny skies since they opened practice on Feb. 5, including a couple weeks of spring-like weather followed by some clear but cold conditions, the forecast for the first part of March looks a bit more dicey, with a chance of rain through the end of this week and into next week.
Whether or not the county’s teams can achieve what they did last season remains to be seen. Kelseyville produced a pair of North Central League I champions in 2017 as Lou Poloni’s varsity baseball squad and Jeff Bour’s softball team won undisputed titles. While the baseball team has some big shoes to fill this season, the softball squad, now coached by Phil Psalmonds, returns seven of nine starters.
Lake County has three new softball coaches this season – Kelseyville’s Psalmonds (replacing Bour), Middletown’s Gunion (replacing Barry Glosser) and Upper Lake’s Nick Williamson (replacing Kelly Coburn). They join veterans Chris Emberson (seventh season) at Lower Lake and Doug Wingler (third season) at Clear Lake.
Spring sports coaches are welcome to report their scores to the Record-Bee sports desk at 900-2018. Please do not call the 263-5636 number as you will have to navigate the voice directory. Coaches should call within a reasonable period after their game ends.
