Middletown, Kelseyville notch softball wins; Trojans, Cards come up short
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FORT BRAGG >> Taluelah Madrid pitched another gem for the Middletown High School varsity softball team Tuesday as the Mustangs beat the Fort Bragg Timberwolves 13-2 in North Central League I action at Fort Bragg.
Madrid allowed single runs in the fifth and sixth innings with the Mustangs (2-2 league, 5-4 overall) already comfortably in front 7-0. Middletown put the game away three runs in the top of the sixth and three more in the seventh.
“It was nice to see us rebound in a positive way after our game yesterday (a 10-0 loss at St. Helena on Monday),” Middletown head coach Bob Gunion said. “I was pleased that we tightened up our defense. It was a great effort from the whole team.”
The Mustangs banged out a season-best 15 hits. Brooklyn Wood led the way, going 4-for-4, while Jaylee Doris, Ally Cherry and Sarah Fetters added three hits apiece. Madrid and Beverly Fetters also had hits.
The Mustangs are home Thursday to play Kelseyville at 4 p.m.
In other NCL I softball action Tuesday:
Kelseyville 15, Upper Lake 2 (6 inn.)
At Upper Lake, AJ Wurm beat her old team, tossing a two-hitter and going 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs as the Kelseyville Knights won their first game of the season at the expense of the Upper Lake Cougars.
Wurm played for the Cougars (0-2, 3-3) her freshman and sophomore years before transferring to Kelseyville along with sister Jordyn Wurm, a freshman. Both had good games against Upper Lake.
“AJ threw a great game and hit very well,” said Kelseyville first-year head coach Brittany Rumfelt, who collected her first career victory. “We had many players who stepped up and did very well. I am very excited to see how our season ends.”
Wurm struck out eight and walked three. Leading 5-2 through five innings, the Knights broke the game wide open with a 10-run top of the sixth.
“Our pitcher Aimee (Schaefers) did a phenomenal job laying in consistent strikes to keep us tight in the game through the first five innings,” Upper Lake head coach Janice Klier said.
Mati Mateer went 2-for-4 with three RBIs for the Knights, Jordyn Wurm went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and Cali Schnabl went 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Kylee Denham (1-for-3), Morgan Rogers (1-for-3) and Josie Keithly (1-for-4) also drove in runs. Vanessa Reyes added a hit.
Portia Klier and Yadira Beecher had the only hits for Upper Lake.
“We played well today and I’m proud of the girls,” Rumfelt said.
Kelseyville hosts Clear Lake on Friday while Upper Lake travels to Lower Lake.
St. Helena 7, Lower Lake 2
At Lower Lake, Tahlia Smith pitched a four-hitter and struck out 16 to outduel Lower Lake’s Mariah Ball (11 strikeouts) as the Saints, two-time defending league champions, beat the Trojans to improve to 5-0 in the NCL I standings.
It’s the second straight game Lower Lake batters have struck out 16 times, and some changes are coming to the lineup as the team continues to struggle at the plate, according to co-head coach Julie Jackson.
St. Helena built a 4-0 lead behind Smith and that was more than enough for the Saints; ace, who didn’t walk a batter.
“Tahlia Smith is a good one,” Jackson said. “She hits her spots. She’s tough to prepare for.”
Bal allowed seven hits and three earned runs, walking three.
“The girls kept their heads up, they kept battling,” Jackson said. “The random errors we made cost us four runs. You can’t have that against a team like St. Helena.”
Bal, Leanna Ortega, Aly Aguirre and Heidi Ortega had Lower Lake’s only hits.
Lower Lake is now 1-2 in league and 3-7-1 overall. The Trojans host Upper Lake on Friday.
Cloverdale 13, Clear Lake 1 (5 inn.)
At Lakeport, Bella Sanchez went 4-for-4 with four RBIs and starting pitcher Charlotte Burchett worked four strong innings as the Cloverdale Eagles scored at least one run in every inning while beating the Clear Lake Cardinals.
The game was called after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.
Burchett allowed just one run while striking out five and walking none. Cloverdale (2-1, 10-1) had a 7-0 lead before Clear Lake (1-2, 4-3) scored in the bottom of the fourth.
“A tip of the hat to them,” Clear Lake head coach Scott Schaefers said. “Margaret (Fitzgerald, Cloverdale head coach) has them playing really well.”
The Cardinals didn’t help themselves in the field with both physical and mental errors, a continuing problem for the young squad.
“There are a lot of things we need to work on,” Schaefers said.
Losing pitcher Atiana Patino, Emily Gersalia and Ashlynn Cruz had Clear Lake’s only hits. Cali Albaum knocked in the Cardinals’ lone run.
Clear Lake travels to Kelseyville on Friday.
