Cougars, Trojans drop non-league games
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KELSEYVILLE >> Three games into their season schedule, the Kelseyville Knights have the look of one scary-good varsity baseball team, more so now than ever, after taking apart Technology, 16-0 in five innings, Tuesday afternoon in Rohnert Park.
It was the first game the Knights (3-0) were at full strength as many of the team’s key figures are back playing baseball after Kelseyville’s participation in the North Coast Section basketball playoffs.
With just one baseball practice under their belts, players such as Brock Barrick (pitcher/infielder), Max Hommer (catcher), Tyler Bryant (pitcher, second base), Kyle Watkins (middle infielder) and Gene Holdenried (pitcher/outfielder) saw their first action.
“I just kind of threw them out there,” Kelseyville head coach Billy Shaul said of veterans, many of whom showed plenty of early-season rust.
In order to give his many pitchers some work, Shaul used five different players on the mound, each throwing an inning. Barrick started, allowed Technology’s lone hit, but also struck out the side. Holdenried, Bryant, Carson White and Jon Gonzalez followed Barrick to the mound. In all, they combined on a one-hitter, striking out 11 and walking four.
“Holdenried looked real, real good,” Shaul said. “He was probably the sharpest (of the basketball newcomes).”
Kelseyville faced two Technology pitchers. Starter Damian Padilla limited the Knights to one run over the first two innings before allowed three runs in the third, his final inning of work.
“Their first pitcher was pretty good,” Shaul said.
Technology reliever Tyler Scullion didn’t fare nearly as well, allowed 12 runs over the final two innings as the Knights plated six runs in the fourth and six more in the fifth.
Barrick picked up where he left off last year at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a two-run home run to left field in the fourth inning, and five RBIs. The senior batted a team-best .541 in 2024.
Hommer, fresh off the basketball court as well, went 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs while another veteran, Reme Strong, went 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI. Bryant went 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Holdenriend, Watkins and Casey Huston also had hits while Holdenried, Watkins, Michael Dougherty and Max Lee knocked in runs.
The Knights went 19-2 last season while claiming a second straight undefeated North Central League I championship. They made it as far as the quarterfinals of the section playoffs, losing there to eventual section champion Justin-Siena of Napa.
Kelseyville returns home Saturday to play Woodland Christian at 2 p.m. at Lloyd Larson Field. Junior varsity teams from the same two schools meet at 11 a.m.
In other non-league baseball action Tuesday:
Clear Lake 9, Colusa 4 (5 inn.)
At Lakeport, Sawyer Smith pitched three innings in relief for the victory and leadoff hitter Jesse Hayes went 1-for-2 with three stolen bases and two runs as the Clear Lake Cardinals opened the season with a victory over the visiting Colusa Redhawks that was called after four and a half innings because of darkness.
Clear Lake had a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Ryken Villanueva stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and promptly cleared them with a three-run double.
“That broke the game open,” Horne said.
Smith (1-for-1) Zane (McAuley (1-for-1) and AJ Bruch (1-for-2) also drove in runs for the Cardinals. Jace Beard went 1-for-2.
“Jesse, he’s our spark plug batting leadoff,” Clear Lake head coach Brian Horne said.
While Clear Lake’s season opener was far from a flawless effort, Horne said it served one very important purpose.
“We got all of the jitters out,” he said.
Clear Lake was the beneficiary of 16 walks issued by Colusa pitching and had the bases loaded several times.
The Cardinals (1-0) travel to Chico for a tournament that opens Thursday when they play Napa in a first-round game at 3:30 p.m. at Pleasant Valley High School. They’ll play two more games on Friday – against Pleasant Valley (8 a.m.) and Golden Valley (3 p.m.) – and could end up playing a fourth game Saturday depending on how they fare in their first three games.
South Fork 6, Upper Lake 3
At Upper Lake, Tyler Collins pitched four solid innings in relief, but the Upper Lake Cougars fell 6-3 to the South Fork Cubs, evening their season record at 1-1.
Jace Kelley started for Upper Lake and took the loss after pitching the first three innings, walking five and allowing five runs.
Collins gave up just one run over the final four innings, striking out eight and walking only one.
“All in all, it’s still early in the season and I’m still getting to know the players,” said Upper Lake first-year head coach Don Meri. “I’m still trying to figure out our best starting lineup.”
Upper Lake is also trying to find its stroke at the plate. The Cougars finished with just three hits, including a run-scoring double by Collins, who finished with two RBIs. Kelley and Mikel Compton had the other Upper Lake hits.
“The effort was there,” Meri said. “The bats just went kind of silent.”
Upper Lake struck out 12 times, including five times looking.
“It’s early in the season and we didn’t put the bat on the ball,” Meri added.
Upper Lake returns to action Friday against Technology in Rohnert Park at 3:30 p.m.
Maxwell 10, Lower Lake 0 (5 inn.)
At Maxwell, the Lower Lake Trojans managed just one hit, a single by losing pitcher Zack Jones, and fell to the Panthers.
Jones worked 3 2/3 innings, allowing three hits, striking out four and walking five.
Lower Lake (0-2) hits the road Friday to play Vallejo at 3:30 p.m.
