Tigers locked in three-way tie for first place
Things are heating up on Sonoma County League softball diamonds this week after a flurry of action, as Analy and El Molino varsity teams get set for the second half of the schedule.
The defending champion Lady Tigers (5-1, 12-5) notched three wins in four recent outings, claiming victories over Healdsburg (17-0), Drake (11-0) and Elsie Allen (18-0), but fell from the ranks of the SCL unbeaten with a 9-4 loss to Sonoma Valley on April 19.
The visiting Dragons jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, and added four runs in the sixth to break it wide open en route to a 9-4 upset. Carson Rasmussen (7 IP, 12 hits, 5 ERs, 2 Ks) went the distance for the Tigers, while top hitters included Samantha Caughie (1 for 3, 3B, 3 RBIs), Gianna Bianchi (1 for 4), Cameron Cordoza (1 for 3, run), Nicole Mearns (1 for 3, run, RBI), Claire Nelson (1 for 3, run) and Leah Lawrence (1 for 3, run).
At press time the Tigers were locked in a three-way tie for the SCL lead with Petaluma and Sonoma Valley, with upcoming games against visiting El Molino (April 26), at Ukiah (April 27) and Piner (April 28). Analy will visit Petaluma in a likely title showdown on May 3. All games start at 4 p.m.
Meanwhile the Lions (2-4, 3-11) rebounded from a 24-0 loss to Sonoma on April 17 with their second win of the league campaign with a 12-1 romp at Elsie Allen two days later.
Pitcher Erika Olson (5 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, 10 Ks) notched the win over the Lobos, while leading batters were Bridget Niclaes (3 for 3, 2B, 2 runs, 3 RBIs), Hayley Sheridan (2 for 3, run, RBI), Risa Scott-Smith (2 for 3, run), Lacy Alberigi (2 for 3, 2B, 2 runs, RBI), Jordan Rodger (1 for 1, 2 runs, RBI), Kaytlin Deniz (1 for 1, run, 2 RBIs), Olson (1 for 4, 2 RBIs) and Mel Delion (1 for 1, 2 runs).
El Mo will visit Analy (April 26, 4 p.m.) and return home to host Petaluma (May 1, 4 p.m.).
