CONCORD — Three underclassmen pitchers combined on a one-hitter Saturday afternoon as the Lower Lake Trojans snapped a three-game losing streak and climbed back to the .500 mark with a 13-0 five-inning victory over Mt. Diablo in non-league varsity baseball action at Concord.
Freshman Ashton Hartman worked two no-hit innings for the victory, striking out five. Sophomore Zach Jones relieved and worked the next two innings, allowing Mt. Diablo’s lone hit while striking out two. Another sophomore, Anthony Myer, pitched the final inning, striking out two.
“The kids were excited about coming to the Bay Area for a game, they were really pumped up,” Lower Lake head coach Mark Peterson said. “Our pitchers really pitched well.”
Lower Lake also banged out 12 hits in the game, which was called after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. Dylan Sherman led the way, going 3-for-3 with a RBI and two runs scored. Luke Campbell also had a good day, going 2-for-3 with a RBI, two runs scored and three stolen bases. Jordan O’Keefe (2-for-2, RBI), Blake Hill (2-for-3, double, 2 RBIs) and Robert Saldana (2-for-3, RBI) were other standouts, while Hartman helped his own cause by going 1-for-3 with a double.
“It was a good confidence builder for the kids,” Peterson said of the shutout victory. “Dylan had a wonderful day. He also had two or three defensive outs in the outfield.”
Peterson also praised the performances of Hill, Campbell and Saldana.
Lower Lake’s fifth win of the year marks the first time the Trojans have won that many games in a single season since the 2017 club went 10-11.
“The energy of the kids overall was really good,” Peterson said. “It was great to see everyone really up for this game.”
Mt. Diablo drops to 2-3.
Lower Lake has a big week ahead with road games at St. Helena on Tuesday, Kelseyville on Friday and Healdsburg (non-league) on Saturday night. The Trojans continue their road swing April 18 against Clear Lake in Lakeport before finally returning home April 21 against Cloverdale.
