Kelseyville varsity baseball moves into virtual tie for first place atop league standings
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UPPER LAKE >> Brayton Thomas combined with reliever JD Smart on a two-hitter and went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs at the plate to lead the Kelseyville Knights to a 14-0 victory over the Upper Lake Cougars in North Central League I varsity baseball action Tuesday afternoon in Upper Lake.
Kelseyville’s fourth straight victory lifts the Knights (4-1 league, 5-9 overall) into a virtual tie for first place with Clear Lake (5-1) and St. Helena (5-1). Kelseyville is the three-time defending league champion.
“Great start by Brayton (Thomas),” Kelseyville head coach Billy Shaul said. “It was his first start since the first game of the season.”
Thomas allowed one hit, struck out five and walked one in his four innings on the mound. Smart worked the fifth, allowing one hit and striking out two.
The Knights continued to hit the ball well at the plate, pounding out nine hits and scoring in every inning, including a seven-run top of the third.
“We had quite a few good at-bats,” Shaul said. “We also had a lot of loud outs.”
“They stroked the ball well and played good defense,” Upper Lake head coach Don Meri said of the Knights.
Deake Lyndall went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a RBI for Kelseyville while Smart went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI. Ryder Weiper (1-for-2) also knocked in two runs. Other RBIs went to Carson Stone (1-for-4), Case Pivniska, Elijah Watkins and Michael Dougherty. Reese Johnson went 1-for-1.
Landen Robinson (1-for-2) and Jimmy Sanchez (1-for-2) had Upper Lake’s hits. Tyler Collins started on the mound for the Cougars and took the loss, striking out two and walking one in two-plus innings.
“Billy did a pretty good job of holding runners up at third base,” Meri said of his Kelseyville coaching counterpart. “He took it easy on us.”
Upper Lake is 0-5 league and 2-9 overall.
Both teams are back at it Friday when Upper Lake plays at Lloyd Larson Field in Kelseyville.
