Clear Lake rallies in sixth inning to knock off St. Helena; Cougars fall to Timberwolves
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KELSEYVILLE >> Brock Barrick pitched a five-inning no-hitter, struck out 12 and missed a perfect game by the margin of one walk, but if you think that was the biggest thing to come out of Kelseyville’s 10-0 victory over the Lower Lake Trojans on Friday afternoon at Lloyd Larson Field, guess again.
Kelseyville, the two-time defending NCL I champion, won its 32nd consecutive league game, a streak dating back to the 2022 season, but that wasn’t the big story either. With his 12 strikeouts, Barrick, a four-year varsity starter, passed brother Logan Barrick (2015-17) , another Kelseyville ace, for most career strikeouts – Brock now has 237 to Logan’s 236.
“It took him four years though,” said Kelseyville assistant coach Logan Barrick, a three-year varsity starter.
“He obviously overpowered them,” Kelseyville head coach Billy Shaul said of Barrick’s near-perfect game against Lower Lake. “I’ve seen him throw better; he’s still not at midseason form.”
Try telling the Trojans (0-1, 0-4) that. Zach Jones was the only Lower Lake player to reach base – he drew a base on balls in the second inning before stealing second, but he could advance no farther against Barrick, who threw 70 pitches during the complete-game effort.
While the strikeout record in the Barrick family was changing hands, the Knights improved to 6-2 on the season and they wasted absolutely no time doing it, jumping on Lower Lake for four first-inning runs. That little detail made Shaul’s day, more so than the no-hitter, the league winning streak and Barrick family strikeout history.
“What made me happy today is we got to them early, getting four runs in the first and three more in the second,” Shaul said. “We put the pressure on them.”
Barrick’s pitching was only part of his big day. He also went 3-for-3 with a double, four RBIs and three runs scored, part of a nine-hit Kelseyville attack. Tyler Bryant went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and Kyle Watkins went 2-for-2 with a double and three runs scored. Also for the Knights, Casey Huston went 1-for-1 with two RBIs and Carson White went 1-for-1 with a RBI.
“They’re hot,” Lower Lake first-year head coach Mike Huffman said of the Knights and their long league winning streak. “We’re still trying to figure things out.”
Added Huffman, “We’re getting better each game.”
Kelseyville travels to Middletown on Friday. Lower Lake played a non-league game Saturday against the Bay School in San Francisco. The Trojans resume their league schedule Tuesday at home against Fort Bragg.
In other NCL I baseball openers Friday:
Clear Lake 6, St. Helena 4
At Lakeport, the Clear Lake Cardinals scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning to erase a 4-3 St. Helena lead and beat the Saints. Clear Lake had a 3-2 lead behind starting pitcher AJ Bruch before the Saints surged ahead with two runs in the top of the sixth.
Clear Lake’s three-run bottom of the sixth featured a run-scoring error and RBI singles by Zane McAuley and Bruch (2-for-3, two RBIs). Winning pitcher Sawyer Smith, working in relief of Bruch, struck out the first two batters he faced in the top of the seventh before issuing a walk. He struck out the next better to end the game and give the Cardinals (1-0, 6-2) a fourth straight victory.
While Bruch and Johnny Gonzales (2-for-3) combined for four of the Cardinals’ seven hits, Clear Lake head coach Brian Horne said leadoff hitter Jesse Hayes helped set the table for the team by going 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored and four stolen bases.
“Jesse’s been playing great,” Horne said. “The kids feed off of his energy.”
Jacob Horne and Ryken Villanueva also knocked in runs for Clear Lake.
“The boys have some momentum and hopefully we can keep it going,” Horne said.
Bruch pitched the first five innings, scattering three hits and allowing three runs (two earned). He struck out eight and walked eight, struggling with what Horne called a moving strike zone.
“AJ’s line doesn’t show how he dominated at times,” Horne said.
Smith allowed two runs (one earned) and one hit over the final two innings, striking out three and walking four.
Clear Lake hits the road Tuesday to play Upper Lake.
Fort Bragg 12, Upper Lake 1 (5 inn,)
At Upper Lake, the Fort Bragg Timberwolves 10-runned the Upper Lake Cougars in the league opener for both teams.
Upper Lake starting pitcher Tyler Collins left the mound after one inning complaining of a sore shoulder.
“He went out there and gave it a good effort,” Upper Lake head coach Don Meri said.
Fort Bragg scored twice in the top of the first inning against Collins and led the rest of the way. Upper Lake (0-1, 3-4) scored its lone run in the bottom of the first on a Jace Kelley single. Collins and Jimmy Sanchez had the only other Upper Lake hits.
“It was a tough day for outfielders,” Meri said. “We had a couple of balls hit over our heads early in the game. Later in the game they (Timberwolves) dinked and dunked us to death, little flairs that fell in.”
Added Meri, “We’re a work in progress.”
Upper Lake hosts Clear Lake on Tuesday.
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