MIDDLETOWN >> Middletown’s reaction to sweeping the Healdsburg Greyhounds in a non-league doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at West Martin Field in Middletown was one of pure Bliss.
As in Jack Bliss.
The junior’s walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted Middletown to a come-from-behind 4-3 victory in game one, and Bliss went 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI in game two as the Mustangs prevailed 8-2.
“We want to win the league this year, that’s our goal,” Middletown coach Jeff Mielke said as the Mustangs improved to 4-0 with their second doubleheader sweep in as many Saturdays.
Middletown trailed 3-0 going to the bottom of the fifth inning against Healdsburg in game one, but the Mustangs pulled even after scoring twice in the fifth and once in the sixth. Still tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Isaiah Moore led off with a walk and advanced to second on catcher’s interference. Bliss followed with a well-struck ball to the gap, easily plating Moore.
“It was a shot,” Mielke said on a day when the ball was not carrying well at Wes Martin Field. “The wind was blowing in and there was heavy air. We had to learn how to play small ball.”
Luke Holt went the distance on the mound, scattering three hits, striking out nine and walking three. He allowed only two earned runs.
“He’s learning how to go deeper into games,” Mielke said. “It was his opportunity to show me he can do the job.”
Drake Harbison, Will Perez and Jordon Hernandez also drove in runs for the Mustangs.
Game two was close until Middletown scored four times in the bottom of the fifth to expand its lead to 7-2.
Keegan Cutting pitched the first three innings for the victory, allowing both Healdsburg runs, striking out three and walking six. Aiden Skinner worked four shutout inning of relief to notch the save. He blanked the Greyhounds on three hits, struck out two and walked one.
Hernandez and Bliss each had two hits for Middletown. Skinner went 1-for-2 with two RBIs while Moore went 1-for-3 with a triple and a RBI.
“Doubleheaders are about to trying outlast the other team,” Mielke said. “You have to be mentally tough and our guys showed a lot of mental toughness.”
Middletown was on the road Monday to play El Molino in Forestville. Results were not available as the Record-Bee went to press (check the Record-Bee’s online edition at www.record-bee.com for a complete wrapup of Monday’s action). The Mustangs are scheduled to host El Molino on Thursday at 4 p.m.
