Tigers finish third; start playoff run this week
Local high school softball teams played out the string in their respective Sonoma County League schedules this week, with one team gearing up for what is hoped will be a protracted playoff run. Â
Analy, which finished up league play with a pair of wins, claimed third place in the SCL standings and will square off with #2 seeded Sonoma Valley in the league playoff tournament starting on May 16 (after press time). Should the Tigers win, they’ll advance to play the survivor of the Petaluma-Piner game on Thursday, May 17 at 5 p.m. All games will be played at Analy.Â
Also very much in the works for the Tigers is a spot in the North Coast Section Division 3 playoff tourney, which begins next week. The seeding meeting meets this Sunday to fill out the divisional bracket.
Tigers take third
Analy (9-3, 17-7) faced a couple of lower division teams in the final stretch of the SCL schedule, beginning on May 8 in a 16-9 win at Piner. Ace pitcher Carson Rasmussen (7 IP, 12 hits, 3 ERs, 2 Ks) earned the victory, while leading hitters were Gianna Bianchi (4 for 5, 1 run, 3 RBIs), Chloe Hadrich (4 for 5, 2B, 2 runs, 4 RBIs), Claire Nelson (3 for 5, 3 runs, 2 RBIs), Rasmussen (3 for 6, run, RBI), Makayla Kraemer (2 for 5, run) and Leah Lawrence (2 for 3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs).
The Tigers made easy work of host Healdsburg in the league finale on May 10, taking an early 14-0 lead en route to a 24-0 rout in five. Nicole Mearns (5 IP, 5 hits, 0 runs, 3 Ks) claimed the win while top hitters were Hadrich (3 for 4, 4 runs, 2 RBIs), Kraemer (3 for 3, 2B, 5 runs, 3 RBIs), Rasmussen (3 for 6, 2 runs, 3 RBIs), Mearns (2 for 2, 2 runs, RBI), Bianchi (2 for 4, 3B, 2 runs, 2 RBIs) and Samantha Caughie (1 for 5, HR, 2 runs, 4 RBIs).
Lions finish season
The El Molino Lions (4-8, 5-15) Â wrapped up the 2018 season with an even split, starting with a 14-4, 6-inning romp over visiting Healdsburg on May 8. Erika Olson (6 IP, 7 hits, 2 ERs, 3 Ks) got the win. Pacing the offense were Risa Scott-Smith (5 for 5, 3 runs, 2 RBIs), Olson (4 for 5, 2 2Bs, 2 runs, 2 RBIs), Lacy Alberigi (2 for 4 2 2Bs, run, 2 RBIs), Grace St. Marie (1 for 3, 2 runs, RBI), Justine Bowers (1 for 1, 2 RBIs) and Bridget Niclaes (1 for 4, run).
The El Mo bats were quiet in the final league game against visiting Sonoma Valley two days later, managing just four hits in a 7-0 setback. Olson (7 IP, 9 hits, 7 ERs, 3 Ks) took the loss. Hitting safely were Hayley Sheridan (1 for 3), St. Marie (1 for 2), Natalie Alberigi (1 for 2) and Olson (1 for 3).