Things are heating up on the local high school softball fields this month, as El Molino and Analy continue to tune up for the upcoming league season.
The Tigers (1-3) logged a pair of preseason home outings last week, dropping successive games to former league rivals Petaluma (6-1) and Sonoma Valley (7-3).
The March 12 clash with the visiting Trojans did not measure up from an Analy standpoint, as Petaluma struck for a solo run in the second and third innings before busting it open in a four-run sixth en route to a 6-1 victory.
Carson Rasmussen (7IP, 8 hits, 5 ERs, 3 Ks) took the loss, while top hitters were Cameron Cardoza (3 for 4), Makayla Kraemer (2 for 3), Samantha Caughie (1 for 3), Elliot Gorath (1 for 3) and Rasmussen (1 for 4, run).
The Tigers played host to Sonoma Valley on March 14, spotting the Dragons a 6-0 lead after three innings. Analy answered late with one run in the sixth and two in the seventh but would fall, 7-3. Rasmussen (3 IP, 7 hits, 5 ERs, 4 Ks) took the loss while Olivia Franceschi (4 IP, 3 hits, ER, 3 Ks) pitched well in relief. Leading hitters were Rasmussen (3 for 4, 2B, RBI), Kraemer (2 for 4, 2B, run), Chloe Hadrich (2 for 2, run, 2 RBIs) and Emma Castleberry (1 for 2).
The Tigers will be back in action on March 26 at Tamalpais at 4 p.m.
Lions log wins
Meanwhile the Lions (4-3) are coming off a busy stretch in the preseason schedule, logging wins over St. Helena (8-5) and Middletown (6-2) before dropping a pair in the Cloverdale Tournament to Cloverdale (8-2) and Fortuna (7-2). El Mo finished the weekend tourney with a 10-1 win over Head Royce.
“We had a pretty rough time of it (in the tournament), but we did have a bright ending,” El Mo coach Steve Newcomb reported. “Peyton Hamner pitched pretty well, we just didn’t hit for her.”
The Lions continue to get great production from freshman pitchers Katelyn Tourady and Peyton Hamner, sharing the mound duties so far. Top hitters in the Cloverdale Tournament were Erika Olson (a combined 9 for 10) and Tourady (7 for 9).
The Lions jumped all over visiting St. Helena in a March 12 home clash with the Saints, as Hamner laced a three-run triple in the first inning en route to an 8-5 victory. Tourady (7 IP, 9 hits, ER, 7 Ks) earned the win, while leading hitters included Olson (3 for 4, run), Bridget Niclaes (2 for 4, 2 RBIs), Hamner (1 for 3, 3B, 3 RBIs) and Natalie Alberigi (2 for 3, run, RBI).
The Lions will visit Fort Bragg on March 19 at 4 p.m. and travel to Kelseyville on March 23 for a 10 a.m. start. El Mo will host Justin Siena on Tuesday, March 26 at 4 p.m.
