KELSEYVILLE — Losing two starters, including their best player, came back to haunt the Kelseyville Knights in the top of the ninth inning when their only two errors of the game paved the way for Fort Bragg’s 5-2 extra-inning victory in a North Central League I varsity baseball game at Lloyd Larson Field.
The same Kelseyville team that was no-hit by the Timberwolves (11-1 league, 17-5 overall) and ace Jullian Clavelle in a 10-0, five-inning loss on April 9 in Fort Bragg, put runners in scoring position with less than two outs in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings but couldn’t capitalize. As a result, Fort Bragg clinched no worse than a tie for the league championship and can wrap it up Tuesday with a road victory against Clear Lake or a Middletown loss to Kelseyville.
“We had opportunities,” Kelseyville coach Lou Poloni said. “We had our shots and didn’t do it.”
Fort Bragg scored twice in the top of the first inning on a Garrett James two-run home run to move out to the early lead. Kelseyville (9-4, 13-8) got one of those runs back in the bottom of the first against Clavelle on a Adrian Villalobos triple and a wild pitch. The Knights tied the game with a run in the third on a Chase Larsen RBI groundout.
And that was all the scoring until the top of the ninth when the Knights allowed three runs that were set up by their own errors. They were minus two starters by then, including shortstop Villalobos, who collided with a teammate in the fifth inning and left the game with what appeared to be a contusion in the “shin area,” according to Poloni, who at first feared the injury was much worse.
“He told me he couldn’t feel his leg,” Poloni said. “And he’s one tough kid.”
Villalobos regained the feeling in his leg before the game was over. Poloni said the senior is questionable to play in the Knights’ regular-season finale Tuesday at Middletown.
“It will be a game-time decision,” Poloni said.
Kelseyville lost its starting center field for a reason Poloni couldn’t explain although it wasn’t injured related.
“I’m still trying to figure it out,” he said.
Shuffling the defense finally caught up with the Knights in the top of the ninth.
“We’re not deep enough to be able to move guys around like that,” Poloni said.
Kelseyville threw a huge scare Fort Bragg’s way in the bottom of the ninth by loading the bases with one out against reliever James, who ended the threat with a strikeout and flyout.
Kelseyville starter Jeremy Brown, only a sophomore, threw 110 pitches before leaving the game after 7 2/3 innings. He scattered 10 hits, struck out two and walked three. He was relieved by Steven Sprague, who took the loss.
“Brownie was brilliant,” Poloni said. “He gives up the bomb to James in the first and then puts seven zeroes up on the scoreboard.”
Brown moved to right field when he was relieved by Sprague and went on to throw out a runner at the plate in the top of the ninth.
“He throws 110 pitches and then throws a guy out from right field,” Poloni said.
Brown also went 2-for-2 as did Villalobos.
“Our guys just battled today,” Poloni said. “I’m really proud of them. We dealt with a lot of stuff today.”
While the loss eliminated Kelseyville from the league race, Poloni said the Knights have a lot of baseball left in front of them, beginning with Tuesday’s road game at Middletown.
“Hopefully we keep battling,” Poloni said. “We’re going to the playoffs and we can improve our seeding if we beat Middletown.”
In other baseball action Friday:
Middletown 12, Willits 1 (6 inn.)
At Willits, Aidan Skinner and Will Aden homered to power the Middletown Mustangs to a fifth straight league victory.
The Mustangs (9-3, 14-7), defending NCL I champions, return home for their final two league games and they couldn’t be any bigger – Tuesday against Kelseyville (9-4) and Thursday against league-leading Fort Bragg (11-1).
Middletown can still clinch a share of the league title, but for that to happen the Mustangs need to win their final two games and hope that Clear Lake (3-9) can pull off an upset at home Tuesday against Fort Bragg.
“We’re ready,” Middletown coach Jon Hoogendoorn said of his team’s two remaining league games. “Oh yeah, absolutely.”
While pitching and defense have carried the Mustangs all season, their bats are coming alive at just the right time. They pounded out 17 more hits on Friday, including a solo home run by Aden (2-for-2) in the first inning and a three-run shot by Skinner (3-for-3) in the sixth. Isaac Perez also went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and two RBIs while Tyler Crudo went 3-for-4 with a double and a RBI.
Winning pitcher Keegan Cutting worked the first three innings, allowing the only Willits run while striking out four and walking one. Aden worked three scoreless innings in relief.
Clear Lake 2, Lower Lake 1
At Lakeport, Preston Jones pitched a complete-game three-hitter as the Clear Lake Cardinals won a pitcher’s duel against the Lower Lake Trojans and Mike Taliaferro.
Jones allowed an unearned run in the top of the fourth that tied the game. Clear Lake (3-9, 5-13) pushed ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth on a Chris White double, an Ethan Maize single that moved White to third base, and a run-scoring throwing error.
“That’s probably the best game we’ve played this season,” Clear Lake assistant coach Ed Pepper said. “We had minimal errors. Both pitchers pitched a really, really good game. We just didn’t quit and came out and played a complete game.”
“I’ll tip my hat to Lakeport, they got us,” Lower Lake coach James Jones said. “Our bats just went cold today.”
Jones struck out eight and walked three. Taliaferro, who also went the distance, allowed six hits, struck out three and walked two.
Taliaferro, Izzac Carver and Cody Faught had the only Lower Lake hits. Blair Hayes, Josh Damiata, Jaron Mertle and Chance Durnal had the other hits for Clear Lake.
Lower Lake, now 3-10 in league and 5-11 overall, closes out its season Tuesday in Cloverdale. Clear Lake host Fort Bragg on Tuesday and Willits on Thursday to finish up its season.
St. Vincent 9, Upper Lake 0
At Upper Lake, undefeated NCL II leader St. Vincent shut out Upper Lake, improving to 12-0 in league and 19-3 overall in the process.
Upper Lake (6-6, 7-9) had one chance to score, that coming in the bottom of the sixth when Diego Velasco tripled with one out. The next batter, Armando Santos, hit a flyball to medium right field as Velasco tagged up. A strong throw home beat him to the plate, ending the inning.
“That was our only opportunity to score in the game,” Upper Lake coach Brian Milhaupt said.
Upper Lake starting pitcher Benat Love worked the first six innings, allowing all nine St. Vincent runs. He struck out two and walked five. Bradley Sneathen pitched a scoreless seventh.
Santos and Russell Gordon Jr. had hits for Upper Lake.
The Cougars host their annual alumni game Saturday at 11 a.m. They have two league games remaining — Tuesday at Rincon Valley Christian and Thursday at Calistoga.
JV baseball
Middletown 11, Willits 0
At Willits, Wyatt Smith pitched six innings for the victory but it was his battery mate, Cole Ketchum, who was the player of the game for Middletown in its lopsided victory over the Willits Wolverines.
Ketchum went 3-for-4 with two runs scored at the plate. Behind the plate Middletown’s catcher picked off a runner at first base and threw out another trying to steal second.
“Cole had a pretty good game,” Middletown coach Chris Dubois said. “He controlled things at the plate and from behind the plate.”
Middletown is 7-4 in league and 12-6 overall. The Mustangs are home Tuesday to play Kelseyville.
