Lower Lake’s Crystal Pepper spoils Kelseyville’s league opener with shutout win
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LOWER LAKE >> Crystal Pepper pitched a gem as the Lower Lake Trojans shut out the Kelseyville Knights 4-0 in North Central League I softball action Tuesday afternoon in Lower Lake. It was the league opener for Kelseyville.
Lower Lake’s scorebook credited Pepper, a junior, with a one-hitter while the Kelseyville book had two hits for the Knights (0-1 league, 1-5 overall).
“Crystal went out there with a good attitude and did the work,” Lower Lake head coach Julie Jackson as she faced her old team for the first time this season. “There was a lot of pressure and she handed it well. She kept her composure a couple of time with runners at third base.”
Lower Lake (1-1 league, 2-4 overall) scored single runs in the first, second, fourth and sixth innings against losing pitcher AJ Wurm, who threw a complete-game four-hitter while striking out 11.
“Ashlyn Wurm did great on the mound,” said Kelseyville head coach Brittany Rumfelt, who was less enthusiastic about the rest of the team’s performance. “We defeated ourselves. It was like we didn’t want to be there.”
Jackson gave solid marks to the Trojans’ effort, citing the defensive play of freshman shortstop Eden Sparks and junior catcher Leanna Ortega.
“Sparks made some good plays,” Jackson said. “Leanna picked off a runner at third base (to end the top of the first). I loved aggressive catchers.”
Added Jackson of her team’s strong play in the field, “That’s the team I want to see out there.”
On facing the team she used to coach, Jackson said, “I coached some of the kids on that (Kelseyville) team when they were in the sixth through eighth grades. They said hello to me when I was coaching at third base. It was good to see them again.
“It is what it is. Now they’re just another team to beat at this point,” Jackson added of the Knights.
Heidi Ortega (1-for-3) doubled home a run for the Trojans and Sparks (1-for-3) singled home another. Marlene Jack (1-for-3, RBI) and Jamiya Lee-Ayers had the other Lower Lake hits.
Ashlyn Wurm went 1-for-3 for Kelseyville, according to the Lower Lake scorebook. Mati Mateer (1-for-3) was also credited with a hit, according to the Kelseyville scorebook.
Kelseyville plays a non-league game Friday in Orland before returning home Tuesday to host Middletown in a league game at 4 p.m. Lower Lake is off until next Tuesday when it travels to Fort Bragg for a 4 p.m. game with the Timberwolves.
