KELSEYVILLE >> The sun came out long enough for Kelseyville to play the Fortuna Huskies in a non-league varsity baseball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Lloyd Larson Field, but the host Knights ended up on the wrong end of a sweep, falling 6-3 and 8-1.
In the 6-3 loss in game one, Fortuna took command early with a three-run first inning and a two-run second against Kelseyville starting pitcher Jason Gentle, who went the first five innings, allowing nine hits and six runs (three earned) with six strikeouts and four walks.
The Knights closed to 6-3 and had the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh when the game ended.
“I was kind of proud the way we battled back after that rough start,” Kelseyville coach Lou Poloni said. “Gentle did a good job of battling after the first couple of innings. He was up in the zone a little early in the game and if you do that against them (Huskies) you’re going to be in trouble. Fortuna is one of the best-hitting teams I’ve seen in a couple of years one through nine in their lineup. They’re definitely going to compete for their league title.”
Some sloppy play on defense, which translated into four Kelseyville errors, also hurt the Knights in game one.
Both teams banged out 10 hits. Jacob Beck went 3-for-3 for the Knights and drove in all tof heir runs while Adrian Villalobos went 2-for-3 and scored twice. Audie Navarro also had two hits. Gentle, Kyle Ashworth and Randy Pfann had Kelseyville’s other hits.
Kelseyville managed just two hits in an 8-1 loss in game two, a double by Nate Phillips and a single by Pfann, and the Knights’ lone run came in the bottom of the first inning and briefly tied the game at 1-1. Fortuna pushed ahead to stay with a run in the top of the second and continued to add to its lead the rest of the way, including a three-run seventh.
Beck pitched the first five innings and took the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) while striking out two and walking four. He also knocked in the Knights’ lone run. Ashworth finished up on the mound.
“I wasn’t happy with our performance in the second game where we made four more errors,” Poloni said. “We made a lot of mental mistakes we shouldn’t be making.”
The Knights’ next scheduled game is Friday at home against Arcata at 4 p.m.
