Ukiah baseball wins division championship, advances to regionals

Saturday was the first time Ukiah baseball has reached the North Coast Sectional championship since 2007. They proved they deserved to be there. They traveled to Petaluma and defeated the home team Petaluma Trojans 13-1 to win the North Coast Sectional Division 2 championship.

The Wildcats scored their first run in the first inning when Trenton Ford led off the game with a walk. He advanced to second when Ethan Rinehart sacriced him over with one out. Trenton advanced to third on a wild pitch then scored on a passed ball to take a 1-0 lead. Austin Ford would give up the only Trojan run in the first inning.

The second inning the Wildcats piled on the runs. Kessler Koch lead off with a single to third. Connor Loflin struck out. Jace Pullins flew out. Hunter Schnitzius sinced scoring Koch. Trenton Ford walked. Caleb Ford singled scoring Koch. ethan Rinehart walked. Austin Ford then doubled in Trenton and Caleb extending the lead to 5-1

The third and fourth innings the Wildcats continued to add on runs scoring three in both the third and fouth innings. The third inning Schnitzius singled. Trenton singled allowing Pullins, who reached on an error, to score on a throwing error by the second baseman. schnitzius scored on a wild pitch and then Caleb Ford singled driving Trenton Ford.

The Wildcats added two more runs in the fifth inning and held the Trojans scoreless to win the game on a five inning mercy rule. Austin Ford pitched the complete game giving up one run on four hits while striking out five batters and not allowing any walks.

The Wildcats advanced to CIF Regional playoffs for division two. The Wildcats are the number five seed and will be traveling to Granite Bay to play the number four seed Granite Bay High school on Tuesday, May 31 at 4 p.m.