Cards tie Napa in tournament action, Trojans drop 2-1 non-league decision
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WOODLAND >> Woodland Christian’s six-run bottom of the second inning had the Kelseyville Knights playing from behind the rest of the way in a season-opening 12-5 varsity baseball loss on Thursday afternoon in Woodland.
The three-time defending North Central League I champions return just one starter this season, sophomore JD Smart, but veteran head coach Billy Shaul said the young Knights are coming along.
“For a first game, we’re right where we need to be,” Shaul said. “I think we’ll be fine. You take that one big inning away and we were right there with them.”
Kelseyville (0-1) jumped on top 3-0 in the first before Woodland Christian got one of those runs back in the bottom half against losing pitcher Brayton Thomas. The Cardinals (6-1), playing their seventh game of the season, surged ahead in the bottom of the second and never looked back.
“Our errors (four) really hurt us,” Shaul said. “They scored seven runs after those errors.”
The Knights also had three players picked off.
Kelseyville added single runs in the third and fifth innings.
The Knights finished with five hits. Case Pivniska went 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI, Carson Stone (1-for-2) had a run-scoring double, Smart (1-for-3) doubled, and Thomas (1-for-3) drove in a run.
Thomas worked the first two innings on the mound allowing seven unearned runs while striking out two and walking five. Reese Johnson pitched the final four innings, striking out six and walking three.
Kelseyville jumps right back into action Friday night against Healdsburg. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Recreation Park.
In other varsity baseball action Thursday:
Clear Lake 12, Napa 12 (tie)
At Chico, Clear Lake fought back from an 11-3 deficit to take a 12-11 but ended up tying Napa High School in the opening round of the Pleasant Valley Tournament. The game was called after five innings because of a tournament time limit.
No individual stats were reported.
Clear Lake (0-1-1) plays Pleasant Valley and Atwater on Friday as tournament action continues.
Willits 2, Lower Lake 1
At Lower Lake, Willits beat Lower Lake in non-league action, the Trojans’ second straight home loss.
Willits (1-0) scored single runs in the second and fifth innings. Lower Lake (2-2) avoided the shutout by scoring in the bottom of the sixth.
Game statistics were not reported.
Lower Lake travels to Justin-Siena High School in Napa on Tuesday. First pitch is 4:30 p.m.
