ST. HELENA >> Jimmy Rockwell pitched a four-hitter and the Middletown High School junior varsity baseball team pulled away late to beat the St. Helena Saints 7-2 and clinch a North Central League I co-championship on Wednesday afternoon in St. Helena.
It was the league and season finale for both teams. Middletown (11-1 league, 21-1 overall) needed a victory to catch Fort Bragg (11-1) atop the final NCL I standings. Those two teams split their season series, each winning at the other’s homefield.
“We would like to have that Fort Bragg game back,” Middletown head coach Jon Hoogendoorn said of a 7-5 loss to the Timberwolves on April 24 at Middletown. “But you can’t ask for more than that … both the (Middletown) JV and varsity teams winning championships. That doesn’t happen very often.”
St. Helena, a team that has played Middletown tough in past seasons, trailed 3-2 after four innings.
“I thought we were in for another tight game, but my guys pulled away,” Hoogendoorn said of the single runs the Mustangs scored in the fifth and sixth inning prior to a two-run seventh.
Rockwell’s pitching was the key, according to Hoogendoorn.
“He pitched his butt off,” Hoogendoorn said of the sophomore’s complete-game effort.
Rockwell struck out five and walked only one.
Nico Barrio and Justin Hollingsworth each had two hits for the Mustangs while Hollingsworth and Pachie drove in two runs apiece.
