Lower Lake wins eight-inning thriller while Patino tosses gem against Upper Lake
Lake County Sports on Facebook
MIDDLETOWN >> Kelseyville High School freshman Madison Byrne went 3-for-3 with two home runs, one of them a grand slam, and a triple, driving in seven runs overall, as the Knights beat Middletown 11-4 in a North Central League I softball game Friday afternoon in Middletown.
Byrne also pitched a complete game, striking out four and walking two, as the Knights improved to 3-4 in the league standings and 4-9 overall.
The home runs were her first two of the season. Besides the grand slam to right field, she had a two-run shot to center field.
Brooke Poff went 2-for-4 with a triple and RBI while Ashlyn Wurm (1-for-5) and Jordyn Wurm (1-for-3) also drove in runs for the Knights. Vanessa Reyes also had a hit. Kelseyville returns home Monday to play Lower Lake at 4 p.m.
Hannah Tribby went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for Middletown (1-8, 2-9) and Sarah Fetters tripled and drove in two runs. Chesnie Henry (2-for-3) an Ash Thompson had Middletown’s other hits.
Taluelah Madrid was the losing pitcher.
Middletown hosts Lower Lake on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Lower Lake 14, Fort Bragg 13 (8 inn.)
At Lower Lake, winning pitcher Crystal Pepper singled home Hailee McRae with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Lower Lake Trojans to a back-and-forth win over the Fort Bragg Timberwolves.
Lower Lake led 4-0 after two innings. Fort Bragg scored seven times in the top of the third to move in front, but the Trojans answered with four runs in the bottom half to go back up 8-7.
The lead continued to flip flop in the fourth with both teams scoring three times. Fort Bragg added three more runs in the top of the fifth for a 13-11 lead, but Lower Lake rallied to tie it with two runs in the bottom half.
Neither team scored in the sixth and seventh although Fort Bragg almost broke through in the top of the seventh. Fortunately for the Trojans, Marlene Jack made a diving catch in left field with runners on base and two outs to prevent the Timberwolves from taking the lead.
“Marline Jack, our left fielder, came ready to play,” Lower Lake head coach Julie Jackson said. “She made a diving catch in the top of the seventh with runners on base that saved us big time.”
Jack also led the Trojans (3-4, 4-7) at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a double and RBI.
The Trojans collected 16 hits in all. Besides Jack, Pepper went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, Eden Sparks went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, McRae went 2-for-5 with a RBI, Madelyn Garner went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and Leanna Ortega went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Pepper pitched all eight innings, striking out nine and walking five.
“We made some errors that we need to clean up, but the girls pushed right through that and never gave up,” Jackson said.
The Trojans travel to Kelseyville on Monday and to Middletown on Tuesday.
Clear Lake 12, Upper Lake 0 (5 inn.)
At Upper Lake, winning pitcher Atiana Patino allowed only one hit and two baserunners as the Clear Lake Cardinals 10-runned the Upper Lake Cougars for the second time in two days.
“We finally put together a complete game,” Clear Lake head coach Scott Schaefers said. “We had pitching, defense (no errors) and hit the ball well.”
Four of Clear Lake’s hits went for extra bases, including two triples by Amelie Davis (2-for-3) and another triple from Patino (1-for-4, 2 RBIs). Faith McIntire went 2-for-3 with three RBIs while Ashlynn Cruz went 1-for-1 with a double and RBI. Karsyn Greer had the other Clear Lake hit.
The only Upper Lake batter to reach base against Patino was Addie Vipond, who singled with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. She later drew the only walk issued by Patino, who struck out seven.
“It was a very good effort,” Schaefers said of Patino’s complete game and the Cardinals’ overall performance.
Bella Stillman was the losing pitcher. She struck out four and walked five.
“These girls have grown up playing together,” Upper Lake head coach Janice Klier said of the Cougars and Cardinals. “So it’s fun to watch them play and I love seeing all the hugs after the game.”
Clear Lake is 6-3 in league play and 13-5 overall. Upper Lake is 2-4 and 4-5.
The Cardinals travel to Santa Rosa on Monday to play Sonoma Academy in a non-league game at 4 p.m. Upper Lake travels to Cloverdale on Tuesday at 4 p.m.