MIDDLETOWN >> Trying to beat the wet weather, the Middletown Mustangs fell 17-4 to the El Molino Lions in a non-league varsity baseball game on a rainy and cold Thursday afternoon at Wes Martin Field where it sprinkled throughout much of the five innings.
It was only the second loss in nine games for the Mustangs (7-2) and by far their most lopsided. They hadn’t allowed an opponent more than five runs in a single game and had surrendered a total of 21 through their first eight.
“It was a wet ball and we threw it all around the field,” Middletown coach Jeff Mielke said. “But I hate to make excuses. El Molino played with the same conditions and they whooped our tails.”
Both teams scored three runs in the first inning.
“I thought we had a ballgame,” Mielke said.
But El Molino batted around in the top of the second, scoring seven times and opening up a 10-3 lead. The Lions also had a six-run top of the fifth. The game was called after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.
Isaiah Moore went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for Middletown, singling home runs in the first and second innings. Issac Perez had a RBI double in the first. Noah Holguin and Jordon Hernandez had the other Mustangs hits.
The Mustangs are scheduled to play at St. Helena on Friday, weather permitting. They are home Tuesday to play Lower Lake at 4 p.m.
In other baseball action Thursday:
JV baseball
Middletown 10, El Molino 4
At Middletown, Cameron Luis pitched five strong innings as the Middletown junior varsity baseball team improved to 9-0 with a non-league victory over the El Molino Lions.
Luis struck out one and walked two before giving way to relievers Will Aden and RH Hess.
Tyler Crudo went 3-for-4 for Middletown while Nico Barrio went 2-for-2 with two walks, three runs scored and two RBIs. Isaac Perez, Justin Hollingsworth and Tanner Pachie added two hits apiece while Aden went 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
Middletown recently won its protest with Fort Bragg over a league game the Timberwolves won March 30. The Mustangs protested the outcome because Fort Bragg’s starting pitcher went well over the 90-pitch count mandated by rule.
Middletown is scheduled to play Friday at Fort Bragg, weather permitting. The Mustangs hit the road on Monday to play Justin-Siena in a non-league game at Napa.
