Kelseyville falls to Etna in opening round of West Valley Tournament
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LAKEPORT >> AJ Bruch was a mystery to Willits’ hitters Thursday afternoon as the Clear Lake Cardinals won their home opener, 13-4, in non-league varsity baseball action in Lakeport.
Bruch, the winning pitcher, stopped the Wolverines dead in their tracks during his four innings on the mound, allowing no hits or runs, striking out eight and walking three.
“We got some of the jitters out,” Clear Lake head coach Brian Horne said of the Cardinals playing before the home fans for the first time this season.”
Bruch left the game with Clear Lake leading 13-0. The Wolverines roughed up freshman reliever Greyson Murray for four runs in the top of the fifth to prevent being 10-runned.
David Cruz closed with two innings of shutout relief, striking out two.
Clear Lake’s second straight win after an 0-3-1 start this season was successful in other ways, according to Horne. Because the Cardinals are not fielding a junior varsity team this season, several younger players who would have been part of that JV team are suiting up with the varsity, giving Horne a large bench.
“I got everyone (16 players) in the game, I got everybody a couple of at-bats, so it was a good day,” Horne said.
Bruch also helped himself at the plate going 2-for-2 with four RBIs, including a two-run double. Jesse Hayes went 2-for-2 with a RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases, Ryken Villanueva (1-for-2) drove in three runs, and Johnny Gonzales III (1-for-2) knocked in two runs with sacrifice flyballs while also stealing two bases.
Zane McAuley (1-for-1) and Fabian Moreno (1-for-2) drove in runs.
Clear Lake plays Branson in a non-league road game Saturday at the College of Marin. First pitch is 1 p.m.
In other varsity baseball action Thursday:
Middletown 10, Tomales 3
At Tomales, winning pitcher Cody de Jong went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Hayden Xavier went 3-for-5 as the Mustangs beat the Tomales Braves for their second straight victory.
De Jong worked the first two innings, allowing one run (unearned) on two hits, striking out five and walking none.
Middletown (2-1) scored five times in the top of the first and led 9-1 through four innings.
Austin Davis went 2-for-5 with a double and RBI while Madden Sutton went 2-for-3 with a double for the Mustangs. Tyler Galamay (1-for-4) and Cody Perez (1-for-2, 2B) drove in two runs apiece. Fabian Becerril also had a hit.
Middletown shoots for a third straight win Tuesday at home against Credo. The Mustangs’ home opener begins at 4 p.m.
Etna 5, Kelseyville 3
At Cottonwood, Kelseyville fell to Etna in the opening round of the West Valley Tournament. The Knights (0-3) play two more tournament games Friday – against Redding Christian and West Valley – before heading to Arcata for a Saturday doubleheader that begins at 11 a.m.
Kelseyville managed to put the potential tying runs in scoring position in the top of the seventh, but the game ended when JD Smart grounded out to shortstop, a play on which he appeared to be safe but was called out nonetheless, according to head coach Billy Shaul.
Both teams scored a run in the first inning. Etna pushed ahead with a run in the third before going up 5-1 in the fourth. Kelseyville closed the gap with two runs in the fifth.
“We couldn’t get big hits when we needed them,” Shaul said.
Smart, who went 3-for-4 with a RBI, pitched the first 2 1/3 innings and took the loss. He allowed five hits and two runs, struck out two and walked none.
“We came out a little flat,” Shaul said. “JD didn’t have his best stuff, but I thought he threw the ball well.”
Carson Stone went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a RBI while Deake Lyndall and Ryan Keithly added hits. Case Pivniska knocked in a run.
JV baseball
Upper Lake 13, Rio Lindo 12
At Upper Lake, in a game called after five innings because of darkness, the Upper Lake High School junior varsity squad scored four times in the bottom of the fifth to defeat Rio Lindo.
“The offense got the bats going later than expected but provided solid run support for the pitchers,” Upper Lake head coach Wyatt Hensley said.
Winning pitcher Carlos Narvaes worked four innings, allowing three runs on three hits with five strikeouts and four walks.
Carter Perry powered the Upper Lake offense, going 4-for-4 with three RBIs, and Michael Marcks went 3-for-5 with a RBI. Travis McCutcheon (2-for-3, double) knocked in two runs.
