KELSEYVILLE — Julie Jackson has her first win as the head coach of the Kelseyville High School softball team, a 12-2 victory in five innings over the Lower Lake Trojans on Tuesday afternoon at Kelseyville High School.
The Knights (1-6 league, 1-7 overall) brought an early conclusion to the game with a seven-run bottom of the fourth to go up 12-2. When the Trojans (2-5, 3-6) didn’t score in the top of the fifth, the game was stopped because of the 10-run mercy rule.
“It feels great,” said Jackson, the former Clear Lake High School standout who was the starting catcher on the Cardinals’ 27-0 team in 2007. “We’ve battled all year and it was a great game. I’m a proud coach tonight and I hope they’re proud too.”
Winning pitcher Jo Hellgren went the distance, scattering six hits, striking out one and walking one. She surrendered single runs in the first and fourth innings.
Kelseyville went ahead to stay with two runs in the bottom of the second. The Knights increased their lead to 5-1 in the third inning when Myranda Williams drove a Jessica Hernandez pitch deep to center field for a three-run home run.
“Monster of a home run,” Jackson said. “It jumped off her bat and I didn’t know when it was going to come down.”
Lower Lake closed to 5-2 in the top of the fourth before the Knights struck for seven runs in the bottom half.
“Everyone contributed,” Jackson said of the team’s first win in North Central League I play and overall. “It’s a great feeling to see them play to their full potential. We played together as a team.”
Hellgren received plenty of support from her offense (12 hits) and defense (just one error). Megan Holland went 3-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs and also played well in the field at first base, according to Jackson.
Another standout both at the plate and in the field was third baseman Paula Vargas, who went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
“She made a ton of plays at third base,” Jackson said.
Skye Mateer also had two hits for the Knights and Emily Sandoval went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Lower Lake individual batting statistics were not reported.
The Knights open the second half of their league schedule Friday at home against Cloverdale (4-3) at 4 p.m. Lower Lake begins second-half play at home Friday against Middletown (3-4) at 4 p.m.
In other softball action Tuesday:
Upper Lake 26, Tomales 6 (5 inn.)
At Tomales, back-to-back 11-run innings in the first and second propelled the Upper Lake Cougars to a blowout NCL II victory over the Tomales Braves.
“Their starting pitcher was a no-show,” Upper Lake head coach Nick Williamson said of the Braves. “That helped our odds.”
Indeed. The Cougars (2-1 league, 2-2 overall) had 12 different players collect hits for a total of 31. Ruby Wurm went 4-for-5 with a double, two triples and six RBIs to lead the Upper Lake hit parade. Tristin Rhodes went 4-for-4 with four RBIs and Hailey Reams went 3-for-5 with a double and four RBIs. Joining Reams with three hits apiece were winning pitcher Karlee Zimmerschied, Paris Klier, Zoey Petrie and Molly McCabe.
Tomales put a bit of a fight early, scoring five times in the bottom of the first against Zimmerschied, who worked the first two innings. Taylar Minnis pitched the final three innings, striking out five and walking four.
The Cougars host league-leading Credo on Thursday at 4 p.m.
“Their pitcher is pretty good,” Williamson said. “If we can put the ball into play, we have a good chance.”
St. Helena 8, Middletown 0
At St. Helena, the St. Helena Saints improved to a NCL I-leading 6-0 with a shutout victory over the Middletown Mustangs, who had just three hits — singles by losing pitcher Emma Hansen, Maddie Ferguson and Tori Tacla.
Middletown drops to 3-4 in league play and 4-4 overall.
The Mustangs are on the road Friday to play Lower Lake (2-5) at 4 p.m.
