Lower Lake varsity baseball defeats Upper Lake in pitcher’s duel turned rout
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LOWER LAKE >> After Upper Lake scored twice in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game 2-2, the Lower Lake Trojans scored nine times in the bottom half to beat the Cougars 11-2 in North Central League I varsity baseball action Friday at Lower Lake.
Both teams were looking for their first league win – and in Lower Lake’s case its first win of the season – and the Trojans finally got it.
“Last night (Thursday) our JVs got their first win and today we got our first win, so yeah, it’s been a good couple of days for us,” Lower Lake head coach Mike Huffman said.
“We didn’t get much of a preseason (only four non-league games), so we’re just starting to come together,” Huffman said of his squad.
Lower Lake starting pitcher Brody Shields and Upper Lake starter Tyler Collins were locked in a shutout going to the bottom of the fourth when the Trojans (1-3 league, 1-7 overall) finally broke through with two runs. Upper Lake immediately answered with two runs in the top of the fifth, driving Shields from the mound as Luke Campbell took over.
Upper Lake (0-5, 3-8) had the potential go-ahead run at third base with two outs when Lower Lake catcher Ashton Hartmann made the defensive play of the game, picking off the Upper Lake runner and ending the inning.
Upper Lake head coach Don Meri said it happened so fast he didn’t even get a good look at it.
“Next thing I know my guy was out,” Meri said. “Whatever he (Hartmann) did, he did a good job and he did it quick.”
“It was a nice back-pick,” Huffman said.
The momentum Hartmann initiated carried over into the bottom half of the inning as the first seven Lower Lake batters reached base – four hits, two walks and a hit batsman – before the first out of the inning was recorded on a strikeout. The next three Trojans reached base as well.
“Collins was pitching good early on,” Meri said. “But when you can’t play catch, it’s a tough game. We can look so good at times, then they just do things that snowball.”
Shields delivered a big two-run single during the inning and Blake Hill also had two RBIs. Six different Trojans finished with one hit apiece while Shields, Hill, Hartmann, Luke Campbell (double) and Eric Alonso all knocked in runs.
Campbell, who relieved Shields in the top of the fifth, earned the win without recording an out himself. Entering a 2-2 game with two outs, he was on the mound when Hartmann picked off the Upper Lake runner at third base to end the inning. Hartmann finished up for the save, pitching the sixth and seventh.
“It was his first game pitching,” Huffman said.
Shields struck out six and walked four in his 4 ⅔ innings. Hartmann had five strikeouts and one walk.
Upper Lake’s bats were mostly quiet again. Collins went 1-for-3 with a RBI, driving in the Cougars’ first run, and Jerod Rosales walked to force in the second run. George Rahmer had Upper Lake’s other hit.
The Cougars return to the road Tuesday to play Middletown. Lower Lake’s scheduled game Tuesday with Clear Lake has been moved to early May. The Trojans host Cloverdale on Friday.
