Kelseyville scores five times with two outs in seventh for 7-6 victory in game two
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KELSEYVILLE >> An out away from being swept by Arcata in a non-league varsity baseball doubleheader Friday afternoon at Lloyd Larson Field, the Kelseyville Knights made everything right, or as right at it could be, by scoring five times after two were out in the bottom of the seventh to beat the Tigers 7-6 in game two, salvaging a split.
“Definitely a mood changer,” Kelseyville head coach Billy Shaul said of the Knights’ game-winning rally, which was capped by a walk-off three-run double off the bat of Max Hommer, erasing a 6-4 Arcata lead. “Our day could have been horrible without that.”
The seventh inning held no shortage of excitement for both teams. Kelseyville freshman starting pitcher Jake Smart pitched six strong innings and left the game trailing 3-2. Arcata scored three times in the top of the seventh against Smart’s replacement, reliever Gene Holdenried, to move out to what seemed like a much safer 6-2 lead.
Kelseyville’s dramatic rally in the bottom of the seventh began modestly enough as Holdenried was hit by a pitch with one out. Kyle Watkins followed with a single before a popup produced the second out of the inning. Brock Barrick (2-for-3) followed with a single to load the bases, setting up a two-run single off the bat of Carson White, which cut Arcata’s lead to 6-4. Reme Strong drew a walk to reload the bases for Hommer, who hit the first pitch he saw down the left-field line. After Barrick and White crossed the plate to tie it up at 6-6, Strong came all the way around from first base to score the winning run.
“He hit a top-spin line over the third baseman’s head, and it went down the line to the fence,” Shaul said. “Reme’s one of our fastest kids, and he scored standing up.”
Hommer finished the game 3-for-4 with four RBIs and White (1-for-3) drove in three Kelseyville runs. Smart allowed four hits and two earned runs in his six innings on the mound, striking out three and walking three.
Kelseyville’s thrilling win in game two was a complete turnaround from the 10-1 thumping the Knights received in game one when they were held to two hits. Arcata snapped a 1-1 tie with a five-run third and continued to add to its lead while pounding out 14 hits against three Knights pitchers. White started and took the loss. Brayton Thomas and Deake Lyndall followed him to the mound. Thomas’ 4 1/3-inning stint helped save the bullpen, according to Shaul.
Strong and Tyler Bryant had the only Kelseyville hits.
Both teams are 5-2 on the season.
“Arcata showed us three great pitchers,” Shaul said of the two pitchers used by the Tigers in game one and their starter in game two. “They’re going to be really tough again in their league.”
The Knights, who are still rounding into form after several of the team’s starters got a late start because of Kelseyville’s extended run in the basketball playoffs, got a much-needed boost, according to Shaul.
“Hopefully this (win) will help get their feet under them a little bit,” Shaul said.
The Knights are off until next Friday when they host Lower Lake in the North Central League I opener for both teams. Kelseyville is the two-time defending league champion and has won 31 straight NCL I games dating back to 2022.
