The surprising sixth-seeded Analy Tiger baseball squad turned
the North Coast Section 3A playoff tournament on its rear-end last
week with huge wins over third-seeded Maria Carrillo, 7-3, and
Montgomery, 3-2, to advance to the championship game.
The Tigers, using a potent combination of strong pitching,
steady defense and timely hitting, almost defiantly challenged the
long-standing notion of North Bay League superiority.
In doing so, the Tigers insured an all-Sonoma County League
title game this Saturday against two-time defending NCS champion
Casa Grande. The fourth-seeded Gauchos advanced to the title game
by virtue of wins over fifth-seeded Cardinal Newman, 7-3, and
top-ranked Marin Catholic, 5-2.
³The NBL has the reputation of being the stronger league, but
I¹ll tell you, the SCL is pretty tough too,² said Analy skipper
Steve Miller. ³Our boys have been bulldogging out there, and they
showed a lot of heart and desire this week.²
Saturday¹s title clash will be part of an NCS double-header
played at Santa Rosa Junior College that also includes the 2A
championship game between Healdsburg and McKinleyville. First pitch
for the 2A game is at 2 p.m. followed by Analy-Casa at 5 p.m.
The Tigers¹ stunning playoff run began on Wednesday, when they
traveled to Maria Carrillo (14-4). Analy pitcher Brad Graham came
up big in his most important start of the year, as Analy erased a
2-0 deficit to score seven runs in the decisive third inning.
In the rally, the Tigers took advantage of seven Puma fielding
errors and added a clutch, two-run double from Mitch Hackwood to
plate seven runs for a 7-2 lead. It was all Graham and reliever
Cameron Cook would need as the Tigers cruised to the eventual 7-3
win. Top Analy hitters were: Jordan Robbins (2 for 3, 2B) and Mitch
Hackwood (1 for 3, 2B, 2 RBIs). Graham notched the win while
Richard Phipps took the loss for the Pumas.
The victory set up a Saturday semi-final clash at second-seeded
Montgomery (16-3). Crafty senior Dana Amundsen climbed the hill for
the Tigers and was quickly staked to a two run lead in the first
inning. Ryan McCown set the tone with a leadoff walk and stolen
base, scoring on an RBI knock from Amundsen. Cook followed with a
single and eventually came home on a sac-fly off the bat of Tom
Walker for a 2-0 Analy lead.
Analy added a key insurance run in the fifth, when Cook laced a
leadoff single, and came home on an RBI knock from Robbins for a
3-0 lead. The Vikings plated a run in the sixth on two hits,
including an RBI double, cutting the Tiger lead to 3-1.
Montgomery made it interesting in the seventh, when a one-out
bunt single prompted a pitching change, as Cook replaced Amundsen.
A wild-pitch made it a 3-2 game, and the Vikings had the tying run
on second base when right-fielder Daniel Albert snared a tailing
shot down the line to preserve the 3-2 Tiger victory.
Top Analy hitters included: Cook (2 for 3), Robbins (2 for 3,
RBI), Amundsen (1 for 3, RBI), McCown (1 for 3, run) and Taylor
Berenyi (1 for 3). Amundsen notched the win for the Tigers.
