Kelseyville punches ticket to semifinal showdown with Willits with 7-2 win over Wildcats
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KELSEYVILLE >> The Kelseyville Knights put the pressure on Ferndale early, scoring three first-inning runs, and never looked back during a 7-2 victory over the Wildcats in the quarterfinal round of the North Coast Section Division 6 softball playoffs Friday evening in Kelseyville.
Kelseyville (8-11), the No. 1 seed in the Division 6 field, advances to Tuesday’s semifinals against No. 5 seed Willits (14-9) at 5 p.m. in Kelseyville. Kelseyville finished tied for third in the North Central League I standings this season, but of the four NCL I teams to reach the postseason this year, the Knights, under the direction of first-year coach Brittany Rumfelt, are the last one standing.
Willits finished second behind Calistoga in the NCL II standings this season, but Wolverines (14-9) upset No. 4 seed Calistoga 9-4 in quarterfinal-round play Friday.
“I am proud of the team today as a whole,” Rumfelt said of her Knights. “We had no errors. Matisyn Mateer made a diving stop (at second base) and continued to make the out flawlessly.”
Rumfelt also praised the glove work of shortstop Aubree Sperber and third baseman Cali Schnabl, the team’s lone senior.
“Aubree made great plays at shortstop and Cali made great plays at third base,” Rumfelt said.
Rumfelt saved her highest praise for winning pitcher Ashlyn Wurm, a junior, who allowed just one hit although she did walk eight and strike out eight.
“Ashlyn Wurm pitched the best I have witnessed to date,” Rumfelt said. “Stats may not show it, but her overall composure and relentlessness to not give into outside uncontrofafllables was fantastic.”
Wurm also anchored the Kelseyville offense, going 3-for-4 and scoring each time she reached base. Her battery mate, catcher Jordyn Wurm, went 1-for-2 with a RBI, and Sperber (0-for-1) drove in two runs. Kat Wheelan also had a hit. Mateer, Wheelan, Kylee Denham and Morgan Rogers all scored runs.
Kelseyville last won a section championship in softball in 2000, a streak Rumfelt and the Knights can end with two more wins. If Rumfelt does guide Kelseyville to the title, the 2007 Clear Lake High graduate will have one as a coach and one as a player after the Cardinals went 27-0 during Rumfelt’s senior season.
No. 3 seed Tomales also advanced to the semifinals on Friday with a 12-9 win over Redwood Christian. Tomales will host the winner of a Saturday game between No. 2 seed St. Vincent and No. 7 Hoopa Valley on either Tuesday or Wednesday.
The Division 6 championship game takes place May 30 or May 31.
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