UPPER LAKE — Bradley Sneathen’s two-run double keyed a six-run Upper Lake bottom of the first as the Cougars beat the Laytonville Warriors 9-4 in a non-league varsity baseball game on Tuesday afternoon at Upper Lake.
While the game was originally scheduled to take place at Laytonville, it was moved to Upper Lake because the Warrior’s home diamond is unplayable right now after receiving a month’s worth of rain.
After winning pitcher Dalton Slater shut out Laytonville in the top of the first inning, Upper Lake (1-2) struck for six runs in the bottom half, including Sneathen’s two-run double followed two batters later by a two-run single from Jonathon Thiessen.
“They got off to a great start,” Upper Lake assistant coach Brian Milhaupt said. “They’ve come a long way in the last two games.”
Upper Lake lost to Lower Lake and Esparto in its first two games.
Laytonville closed to 6-3 in the top of the third but Upper Lake got two of those runs back in the bottom of the fourth. Both teams scored a run in the sixth.
Slater worked four innings for the victory, allowing two earned runs, striking out four and walking three. Diego Velasco finished up, striking out four and walking four over the final three innings. The only run he allowed was unearned.
The Cougars out-hit the Warriors 12-6. Velasco led the way, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs while Sneathen, Thiessen, Slater and Desmond Mueller added two hits apiece. Slater had a triple.
Upper Lake returns to action Thursday at Lower Lake. First pitch is 4 p.m.
In other baseball action Tuesday:
Clear Lake 11, Technology 0
At Rohnert Park, the Clear Lake Cardinals notched their first win of the season, blanking the Technology Titans in a game called after five innings because of the 10-run rule.
Winning pitcher Darius Ford carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning and settled for a one-hitter. He struck out five and walked two.
Ford and Blair Hayes each went 3-for-3 and Chris White went 3-for-4 for the Cardinals (1-2). Jaron Mertle, Bo Daskam and Preston Jones added two hits apiece.
Clear Lake opened its season March 4 by dropping a doubleheader at Arcata, losing 9-1 and 10-0.
The Cardinals open play against McKinleyville on Friday at 10 a.m. in the Fort Bragg Tournament. If they lose, they’ll play again on Friday at 4 p.m. If they win, they’ll return to action Saturday.
