Lower Lake falls 17-6 to Upper Lake, Clear Lake avenges earlier loss to Kelseyville
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UPPER LAKE >> One season after breaking Lake County’s single-season home run record and guiding Lower Lake into the North Coast Section playoffs where they upset Cloverdale in a first-round game, senor Mariah Bal left the Trojans scrambling Tuesday after quitting the team.
The fallout was immediate as Lower Lake lost 17-6 in five innings to cellar-dwelling Upper Lake in a North Central League I game at Upper Lake.
“I can’t really get into why,” said Lower Lake co-head coach Julie Jackson, who did confirm that Bal and another player informed both her and co-head coach Tara Downey that they were leaving the team Monday. “She quit and it’s really nobody else’s business.”
Lower Lake had been on a good run of late, including a four-game winning streak during which Bal had pitched a no-hitter, one-hitter, two-hitter and four-hitter. That streak ended Friday with an 8-0 loss at league-leading St. Helena, but Bal pitched well in the loss.
The news of Bal’s departure left both her coaches and teammates floored, according to Jackson.
“It definitely played a huge factor on their well-being today,” Jackson said of the team’s disposition Tuesday.
Lower Lake elevated pitcher Crystal Pepper from the junior varsity squad to fill in for the remainder of the season.
“She went in with a good attitude and gave it her all,” Jackson said of Pepper. “She’s all we have left.”
Lower Lake (6-5 league, 8-10-1) was trailing 5-2 when Upper Lake rolled out six runs in the bottom of the fourth to put the Trojans in a deep hole. Lower Lake scored four times in the top of the fifth to cut the Cougars’ lead to 11-6, but the Cougars came right back with a six-run outburst in the fifth to end it as the 10-run rule came into play.
Upper Lake’s bats had a big day, led by Angelina Rivera, who went 2-for-2, doubled twice, scored three times and drove in three runs, and Hope Marcks, who went 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs.
“Our seniors, Angelina Rivera and Hope Marcks, really brought their A game today at the plate and made us proud,” Upper Lake head coach Janice Klier said.
Ava Witter went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Leyla Marcks went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, and Yadira Beecher went 1-for-3 with a double and a RBI for the Cougars (2-7, 5-8). Portia Klier added a hit and scored twice while Ashlyn Rhodes scored three times.
Winning pitcher Aimee Schaefers struck out nine and walked two.
“Aimee pitched a fantastic game and had all of her teammates supporting her efforts with exemplary defense,” Klier said. “We saw sharp fielding and strong batting along with aggressive and smart baserunning. We really came together and played as a cohesive team, and it was a joy to watch.”
Upper Lake hosts Clear Lake on Thursday and Middletown on Friday. Lower Lake is home Friday to play Clear Lake.
In other NCL I action Tuesday:
Clear Lake 5, Kelseyville 2
At Lakeport, led by Karsyn Greer and Atiana Patino, the Clear Lake Cardinals avenged a 5-3 road loss to Kelseyville on April 11 with a come-from-behind home victory over the Knights.
Kelseyville (6-6, 6-10) scored twice in the top of the fourth to push in front 2-0, but Clear Lake rallied with a run in the bottom of the fourth and another run in the fifth, Greer’s homer to left field knotting the game at 2-all. The Cardinals then pushed ahead to stay with a three-run fifth, a 5-2 lead that winning pitcher Patino made stand up.
“Karsyn had a great game,” Clear Lake coach Scott Schaefers said of Greer, who went 3-for-4, all of those hits for extra bases, including two doubles, and two RBIs overall.
Patino didn’t allow an earned run while striking out nine and walking only two.
“Ati pitched very nicely, on target,” Schaefers said.
Cali Albaum went 2-for-3 for Clear Lake and both Lindee Bingham (1-for-2) and Hailey Perez (1-for-3) drove in runs.
For the Knights, Morgan Rogers went 2-for-4 while Jordyn Wurm, Mati Mateer, Vanessa Reyes and Kylee Denham all had hits.
Losing pitcher Ashlyn Wurm struck out seven and walked four.
“This year has been full of growing pains,” Kelseyville head coach Brittany Rumfelt said. “We are rebuilding a program for students to become the best future athletes and civilians. It starts with attitude and effort.”
Schaefers said the win again Clear Lake’s archrival gives his team a big boost going into a busy week. The Cardinals (3-5, 7-6) are on the road Wednesday in Cloverdale, Thursday in Upper Lake and Friday in Lower Lake. They play three more league games next week to wrap up the regular season.
“They were a happy lot,” Schaefers said of the Cardinals following Tuesday’s win.
St. Helena 13, Middletown 3 (6 inn.)
At Middletown, St. Helena clinched no worse than a tie for the league title with a six-inning victory against the Mustangs.
The Saints (12-0, 18-4) can wrap up a third straight undisputed league championship with a win Friday in Fort Bragg. St. Helena is also pursuing a third consecutive North Coast Section title.
Middletown (2-10, 5-12) scored twice in the bottom of the second inning to cut St. Helena’s lead to 5-2, but the Mustangs didn’t score again until the fifth against winning pitcher Ada Blanton.
Bev Fetters (1-for-3) tripled and drove in two of the Mustangs’ runs while Sarah Fetters went 1-for-2 with a RBI. Losing pitcher Taluelah Madrid and Leahmya James West had Middletown’s other hits.
Madrid struck out five and walked three.
Emily Glakeler went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Saints and Lillian Grimes went 2-for-3. Olive Filippini (1-or-3) and Malia Lund (1-for-3) drove in two runs apiece. Lund had a triple.
Middletown closes out its season with two road games. The Mustangs visit Upper Lake on Friday and travel to Lakeport on Tuesday to take on Clear Lake.
Cloverdale 14, Fort Bragg 4 (6 inn.)
At Cloverdale, the Cloverdale Eagles (8-2, 16-2) strengthened their hold on second place in the league standings with a six-inning victory over the Fort Bragg Timberwolves (4-8, 6-10).
Emerson Reasoner went 3-for-5 with two RBIs for the Eagles and Camryn Bird went 3-for-4 with a double and RBI. Lexie Hernandez, Bella Sanchez and Keiko Seito added two hits apiece.
Winning pitcher Charlotte Burchett worked the first 3 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking one. Andrea Escobedo took the loss.
Denise Mendoza went 2-for-3 with a RBI for Fort Bragg and Escobedo added two more hits.
Cloverdale hosts Clear Lake on Wednesday at 4 p.m.