ALAMEDA >> The top-seeded St. Joseph Notre Dame Pilots made the Kelseyville Knights pay for their four errors on Friday, scoring six unearned runs in a 7-3 victory in the quarterfinal-round of the North Coast Section Division IV softball playoffs at Alameda.
St. Joseph Notre Dame (20-2) will host either Berean Christina of Walnut Creek or Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa in one of two semifinal games on Tuesday or Wednesday. Kelseyville, the North Central League I runner-up this season under first-year coach Phil Psalmonds, closes out 2018 at 17-5.
“I want to win every game,” Psalmonds said when asked if he was happy with the Knights’ performance this year. “I always say if you don’t like how you did, do better next time.”
Kelseyville did own a 2-0 lead after the top of the first inning as Tymeka Green singled home two runs with two outs. St. Joseph Notre Dame tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the third and it remained 2-2 until the Pilots, against capitalizing on Knights mistakes in the field, rallied for five runs in the bottom of the fifth to go up 7-2.
Kelseyville picked up its final run in the sixth.
While the Pilots out-hit the Knights 10-5, Psalmonds said losing pitcher Allison Bryant did a good job of keeping her opponents off-balance at the plate.
“They were pulling everything,” Psalmonds said. “I think they’re used to facing faster pitching.”
Bryant struck out one and walked two.
Green, Paige Bour, Bailey Couey, Taylor Paulich and MJ Boardman had Kelseyville hits, all singles.
Eighth-seeded Kelseyville advanced to the quarterfinals with a 22-9 victory over No. 9 St. Mary’s of Albany on Tuesday. St. Joseph Notre Dame had a first-round bye.
Psalmonds, who also coaches junior varsity boys basketball at Clear Lake High School, said he plans on returning next season.
“I plan to,” he said. “These girls are too nice and too fun not to be around. I enjoyed working with them.”
