All-County baseball team dominated by league champions Clear Lake, Kelseyville
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LAKE COUNTY >> In a North Central League I varsity baseball race that went down to the final day and final out of the regular season, the Clear Lake Cardinals snapped an 11-year drought without a league title while the Kelseyville Knights claimed a share of a fourth straight NCL I championship in 2026.
Clear Lake, Kelseyville and St. Helena all finished 11-3 while the Fort Bragg Timberwolves ended up 10-4, capping one of the more exciting league races in decades.
Not surprisingly, the 2026 edition of the All-Lake County team is dominated by the two county teams who earned a pennant with different formulas. The senior-dominated Cardinals rode the arms of their two aces and relied on a punishing offensive attack to reach the top of the league standings while the sophomore-dominated Knights, steadily improving throughout a season that began 1-9, played their best ball in the final weeks to earn a title share.
Picking a single MVP or even co-most valuable players proved a difficult task, so for the first time in the history of the All-County baseball team, three players are sharing that honor, and all deservedly so. They are Clear Lake seniors Sawyer Smith and Jesse Hayes, and Kelseyville sophomore JD Smart.
A late-season back injury sidelined Smith right before the playoffs, but the right-hander was a steady and dominating presence on the mound and the lynchpin in the Clear Lake batting order throughout a 16-9-1 season, one that was loaded with top-notch preseason opponents.
Hayes, Clear Lake’s leadoff hitter, turned in a stellar senior season with more than 40 hits and 50 stolen bases. He was just as good if not better as the Cardinals’ starting center fielder, committing one error all season.
Smart, whose dad Jesse helped Clear Lake win a section title in the 1990s, is among a large and talented group of Kelseyville underclassmen who could end up leading the Knights to a couple more league championships before they’re through. Kelseyville’s ace and a dangerous No. 2 hitter in the Knights’ batting order, Smart turned in solid play from season’s start, even as Kelseyville limped out of the gate during a difficult preseason schedule, then came on strong to finish 14-13 overall. Smart was 5-4 with a 2.46 ERA on the mound while also batting a team-best .505. He was among team leaders in all categories, including 48 hits, 29 runs, 22 RBIs and 10 doubles.
Kelseyville dropped its league opener to Middletown before winning 11 of its final 13, the only two losses coming to Clear Lake. The Cardinals beat Kelseyville a third time in a league playoff game.
Clear Lake’s only league until the final week of the regular season came to St. Helena in St. Helena. The Cardinals lost twice to Fort Bragg in the final week while Kelseyville beat St. Helena twice to forge a three-way tie atop the standings.
First team
Earning spots on the All-County first team are Clear Lake seniors AJ Bruch (pitcher/infielder), Johnny Gonzales III (shortstop), Zane McAuley (catcher) and sophomore Ezekiel Lopez (infielder); Kelseyville sophomores Case Pivniska (catcher), Carson Stone (infielder) and Deake Lyndall (infielder), and junior Brayton Thomas (pitcher/outfielder); Middletown seniors Jon Hawkins (pitcher) and Hayden Xavier (outfielder); Lower Lake senior Ashton Hartmann (catcher/pitcher/outfielder) and Upper Lake senior Mikel Compton (outfielder).
Coach of the Year
Clear Lake’s Brian Horne is the Coach of the Year after navigating the Cardinals through a difficult preseason schedule, culminating in their first league title since the 2015 club went 14-0.
The Cardinals 10-runned opponents 10 times in league play, including Kelseyville twice.
