HEALDSBURG — Sophomore Troy Taber struck out 12 Healdsburg batters, including the side three times, but the Middletown Mustangs couldn’t overcome back-to-back-back errors in the fifth inning as they dropped a 3-1 non-league decision to the Greyhounds in varsity baseball action Wednesday night at Recreation Park in Healdsburg.
“He threw one hell of a game,” Middletown head coach Tyler Holt said of Holt. “He struggled a little bit here and there, but for a first start of the season, he did fantastic.”
A bit nervous at the outset, Taber hit the first Healdsburg batter he faced before settling down to throw a complete-game four-hitter.
“I told him to go to work after that (hit batter) and that’s what he did,” Holt said. “I couldn’t have asked for anything more from him.”
Taber struck out the side in the second, fourth and sixth innings. He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth with the help of an inning-ending double play that he initiated following a comebacker to the mound.
Healdsburg scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-0 lead. Taber retired the first two Greyhounds he faced before a walk and three consecutive Middletown infield errors led to three unearned runs.
Middletown (0-3) got one of those runs back in the top of the sixth on a bases-loaded walk to Jesse Young, but the rally ended on a grounder to second.
Aiden de Jong (2-for-3) had two of the Mustangs’ three hits. TJ Allred had the other hit.
Taber also walked three and hit one during his 98-pitch outing.
Holt said he was proud of the Mustangs’ efforts against a 4-0 Healdsburg squad.
“They showed up to play against a good Healdsburg team and did exactly what they needed to do,” Holt said.
The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday but pushed back a day because of wet field conditions.
“The field was in great shape,” Holt said.
Weather permitting, the Mustangs are home Friday to play St. Bernard’s of Eureka and away Saturday to take on McKinleyville.
