HEALDSBURG — Middletown High School pitchers Jimmy Rockwell, Cameron Luis and Jack Bliss combined on a one-hitter as the Mustangs provided first-year varsity baseball coach Jon Hoogendoorn with his first victory, an 8-1 decision over the Healdsburg Greyhounds under the lights Friday night at a soggy Recreation Park.
“It was drizzling and the field was pretty wet,” Hoogendoorn said as the Mustangs squared their season record at 1-1. “We were a lot more aggressive with our bats.”
Healdsburg’s lone hit came in the top of the fifth inning, an infield single.
“It was a little dribbler between my first baseman and my second baseman,” Hoogendoorn said.
Rockwell drew the start and blanked Healdsburg (0-4) on no hits through the first four innings. He left the mound with a 7-0 lead.
Cameron Luis pitched the fifth inning and Jack Bliss finished up, striking out three and walking none over the final two innings.
Middletown scored in each of the first four innings, including a three-run second inning and a two-run fourth when Drake Harbison (2-for-4) launched a two-run triple. Bliss also had a RBI triple among his two RBIs. Will Aden went 2-for-4 with two RBIs while Jon Hoogendoorn Jr. and Tyler Crudo each went 2-for-4 with a RBI. Isaac Perez added two more hits and scored twice.
“We only had one practice outside this week,” Hoogendoorn said. “The bad weather chased us inside the gym.”
Middletown is scheduled to host McKinleyville in a non-league game Saturday beginning at noon at Wes Martin Field.
“I’ll do everything in my power to get that field ready,” Hoogendoorn said. “Hopefully we can get a game in.”
