Lower Lake squares league record behind senior pitcher; Cards, Mustangs, Cougars fall
Lake County Sports on Facebook
LOWER LAKE >> Sweeping the season series from the Kelseyville Knights, the Lower Lake Trojans needed only five innings to post a 10-0 win in North Central League I varsity softball action Tuesday afternoon at Lower Lake High School.
Mariah Ball, senior pitcher, had her fingerprints all over this one. She blanked the Knights (4-4 league, 4-8 overall) on three hits while striking out 11, which made it an easy day for the Lower Lake defense. Given some pitches to hit at the plate, Bal took advantage, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
“She was just seeing the ball better today,” Lower Lake co-head coach Julie Jackson said of Bal, who smashed a county-record eight home runs a year ago but hasn’t seen much to hit this year as several teams have pitched her very carefully.
“She had an all-around good game,” Jackson said.
Lower Lake beat Kelseyville 8-5 in nine innings in the league opener for both teams earlier this season at Kelseyville, and beating the Knights again was certainly satisfying for Jackson, who coached the team for several seasons before being dismissed after the 2024 campaign.
“I really don’t bring that up, but the players know,” Jackson said. “They were ready today. It was a total team effort.”
Lower Lake had no margin for error with only nine players in uniform. One of those – Aly Aguirre – twisted her ankle during the game but stayed in.
“We taped it up and she toughed it out,” Jackson said. “We had one player on a field trip and two out sick.”
While Bal led the way, freshman Heidi Ortega, a call-up from the junior varsity team earlier this season, also played a big part in the win, according to Jackson. Ortega went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and three runs scored while also playing a strong center field.
“She was the catcher on the JV team,” Jackson said. “She’s a gamer, a great teammate and a good center fielder.”
Grace Reyes went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Jamiya Lee-Ayers tripled, walked three times and drove in a run.
While the Trojans (3-3 league, 5-8-1) squared their league record, Kelseyville (4-4, 4-8) fell back to .500 after a lackluster performance.
“Today was a letdown,” Kelseyville head coach Brittany Rumfelt said. “There wasn’t much that went our way.”
Josie Keithly, Kat Wheeland and losing pitcher Ashlyn Wurm had the only hits against Bal. Wurm started the game and lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and seven walks. Morgan Rogers got the last out.
Lower Lake plays a doubleheader Friday at Fort Bragg (Lower Lake and Fort Bragg were rained out earlier this season) beginning at 2 p.m. Kelseyville returns home to play Middletown.
In other varsity softball action Tuesday:
St. Helena 18, Clear Lake 0 (5 inn.)
At Lakeport, undefeated league leader St. Helena (8-0, 14-4) took a 7-0 lead into the fourth inning before scoring 11 times against Clear Lake (2-4, 6-5).
Winning pitcher Tahlia Smith and reliever Ada Blanton combined on a two-hitter with 12 strikeouts and only one walk.
“They are the class or our league, the class of Division 4,” Clear Lake head coach Scott Schaefers said. “They have very good pitching, and they can hit the ball.”
The Saints pounded out 19 hits, including seven doubles and a triple. Emily Glakeler led the way, going 4-for-4 with a double and five RBIs, while Olive Filippini went 4-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. Smith, who bats leadoff for the Saints, went 3-for-5 with two doubles.
Clear Lake’s only hits were a double by losing pitcher Atiana Patino in the first inning against Smith and a single by Lindee Bingham in the fifth against Blanton.
“You just have to tip your hat to them,” Schaefers said of the Saints.
Clear Lake hosts South Fork in a non-league game Friday at 4 p.m.
Cloverdale 10, Middletown 6
At Middletown, despite falling behind 8-0 in the second inning, the Middletown Mustangs battled back to give Cloverdale a game, something that wasn’t lost on head coach Bob Gunion.
“Good game for us,” Gunion said. “We rallied in the end and were just short against a very good Cloverdale team. The players were positive.”
Cloverdale improved to 6-1 in league play and 14-1 overall, that lone loss an 11-1 league setback to St. Helena in the league opener for both teams earlier this month. The same two teams meet Friday in Cloverdale.
Camryn Bird went 4-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs for the Eagles while Ronni Hatcher and Emerson Reason both had three hits. Starting pitcher Charlotte Burchett worked four innings for the victory. Bird pitched the last three innings, striking out seven.
Middletown (2-6, 5-8) finished with five hits, one each by Taylor Thompson (1-for-4, RBI), Ally Cherry, Sarah Fetters, Jaylee Doris and losing pitcher Taluelah Madrid, who pitched a complete game, allowing 11 hits and three earned runs while striking out eight and walking one.
Middletown is on the road Friday to play Kelseyville at 4 p.m.
Fort Bragg 13, Upper Lake 3 (5 inn.)
At Fort Bragg, with four players out for a variety of reasons, the Upper Lake Cougars could field only nine players in a loss to the Fort Bragg Timberwolves.
Fort Bragg (2-5, 4-7) escaped the NCL I cellar with its win.
“I’m seeing improvement in our bats as we only had one strikeout today,” Upper Lake head coach Janice Klier aid. “Now it’s time to focus on tightening our defense.”
The Cougars (1-5, 4-6) mustered only four hits, including a run-scoring double by Addison Vipond. Lexy Peregrina also doubled in her only official at-bat. Portia Klier and losing pitcher Aimee Schaefers added singles.
Schaefers pitched all five innings, allowing 10 hits, striking out nine and walking one.
The Cougars are off until next Tuesday when they host Cloverdale at 4 p.m.