Opened 16-team Division-3 tournament with hard-fought wins over Bishop O’Dowd and Albany
The varsity baseball Tigers are in hot pursuit of a North Coast Section championship this week after opening the 16-team Division-3 tournament with hard-fought wins over Bishop O’Dowd and Albany.
At press time the third-seeded Tigers (22-6) were putting in final preparations to host number 10 El Cerrito in the semifinal game on May 31. Should Analy win, it will advance to play the survivor of top-seeded Acalanes vs. number 12 Miramonte for the Division-3 championship on June 3 or 4. Check the NCS website at www.cifncs.org for up to date bracket information as it becomes available.
The quest for a coveted NCS pennant has not been easy, as the Tigers overcame a big early deficit to beat 14th seeded Bishop O’Dowd, and then used outstanding pitching and some good fortune to come from behind to defeat number six Albany on Saturday.
The Tigers spotted visiting O’Dowd a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning in the May 24 playoff opener in Sebastopol, as Dragons’ ace Leo Nierenberg held the Analy bats in check through four innings. Nierenberg left the game after reaching the 100-pitch mark in the bottom of the fifth, and the Tigers quickly capitalized with a decisive, six-run uprising that would put them in the lead.
In the rally, Analy got a bases load double off the bat of Keaton Bates, followed by a two-run single from Drew Valez. Devon Ogston and David Codoni added RBI knocks to give the Tigers a 7-5 lead.
With winning pitcher Gabe Werthimer on in relief, Analy added another three insurance runs in the sixth en route to a 10-5 win. Top hitters included Valez (2 for 2, 4 RBIs) and Bates (1 for 1, 2B, 2 RBIs).
The Tigers played host to a solid Albany squad in a sun-drenched quarterfinal clash on May 28, sending Werthimer back to the hill opposite Cougars’ ace Clayton McDonald. Albany drew first blood with a solo run in the opening frame for a 1-0 edge, but the game would turn for Analy in the fateful third.
McDonald suddenly lost his command, hitting Analy batters Jack Newman, Drew Valez, Devon Ogston, and Nolan Alvarez to knot the contest at 1-1. Codoni laced a run-scoring single for a 2-1 lead and Beeler added a third run on a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-1 ballgame.
Werthimer settled in to quiet the Cougar bats, as the Tigers allowed just a solo run in the sixth to close out an eventual 3-2 win. Leading Analy’s four-hit attack were Codoni (1 for 3, RBI), Carter Merlaud (1 for 3, 2B), Taylor Cullen (1 for 3) and Johnny Gomes (1 for 2).
