Kelseyville, minus several players, needs only five innings to defeat Colusa in opener
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KELSEYVILLE >> Even with a large chunk of his team still playing basketball, Kelseyville High School varsity baseball head coach Billy Shaul watched the Knights, two-time defending North Central League I champions, open a new season with a win on Tuesday afternoon at Lloyd Larson Field.
In fact, the Knights needed only five innings to send the Colusa Redhawks to a 13-3 defeat during the non-league game.
Three different Kelseyville pitchers combined on a two-hitter, with winner Carson White going the first two innings for the victory. Brayton Thomas and JD Smart followed him to the mound.
The Knights wasted no time at the plate taking the lead, scoring five times in the bottom of the first inning. They continued to add to their advantage with two runs in the second, two in the third, two more in the fourth and another two in the fifth, at which point the game was called on account of the 10-run mercy rule.
One of the few Kelseyville veterans not still playing basketball, Reme Strong, went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a run batted in and three runs scored to anchor the Knights’ offense. Smart had a sacrifice fly and three runs scored without logging an official at-bat, while Deake Lyndall went 2-for-2 with a RBI. Stone (1-for-1) and Case Pivniska (1-for-3) also knocked in runs.
Starting pitcher Stone allowed two unearned runs in his two innings on the mound, striking out two and walking three. Thomas relieved and allowed one earned run and two hits in his two innings. He also struck two and walked three. Smart finished up, striking out one and walking one in one inning.
Kelseyville is unlikely to have its baseball players back until next week at the earliest. If the basketball team wins its North Coast Section third-place game Friday night at home against Sonoma Valley, it will continue on in the NorCal playoffs, part of the state tournament, beginning early next week.
The baseball team’s next scheduled game is Saturday at home against Fortuna at 2 p.m.
TEAM NOTES: The Knights went 19-2 last season, including 16-0 in league play. They were 18-6 in 2023, including a 14-0 mark in league play. Willits left the NCL I in baseball after the 2024 season, so league teams will resume playing 14 games … Kelseyville staff ace Brock Barrick, who is still playing basketball, has won 17 games the last two seasons for the Knights. Kyle Watkins, Max Hommer, Gene Holdenried and Tyler Bryant are other baseball starters still playing on the hardwood … The Knights enter the 2025 season having won 31 straight league games. They don’t open league play this season until March 28 at home against Lower Lake.
