Tigers will host Piner; Lions visit Elsie Allen
The much-anticipated start of the Sonoma County League baseball campaign has arrived this week, as El Molino and Analy kick off what should be exciting and competitive seasons.
Petaluma will open league play as the clear favorite to dethrone the reigning champion Tigers, with Sonoma Valley also expected to challenge for the SCL pennant. Look for the Lions to be among the most improved teams as they battle for the upper division and a likely post-season berth.
At press time both teams were prepping for their respective league openers on Tuesday, March 28 as the Tigers (6-4) play host to Piner while the Lions (7-2) visit Elsie Allen. The first pitch in each game is 4 p.m.
Last week the teams dodged wind and rain during spring break, with the Tigers managing one win in three outings in the annual A.L. Rabinovitz Tournament hosted by Montgomery. The tourney was pushed back one day due to wet weather, with one game played on Wednesday and two on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Lions were washed out of their scheduled March 24 date with St. Helena and were preparing to wrap up the pre-league schedule in a make-up game with Saints on March 27 (after press time).
Analy claims one of three
Analy played host to Windsor in the tourney opener on March 22, with the Jaguars’ Travis Broadhead tossing a three-hit gem en route to a 1-0 win. Drew Valez took the hard-luck loss for the Tigers.
Analy rode the strong arm of Evan Peelen in Thursday’s game two against Piner, as the senior hurler throttled the Prospectors in a 5-0 Analy win. Peelen was nearly unhittable, tossing a complete-game, one-hit gem.
The Tigers squared off against visiting Northgate for the Rabinovitz Consolation title later that afternoon and again were victimized by an outstanding performance from Broncos’ pitcher Nick Krauth in a 6-0 loss. Jack Newman took the loss while Todd Noonan led the Tigers’ hitting corps with two hits in three trips.
Photo: Spring Heat – Senior pitchers Jack Newman (Analy) and Jake Peter (El Molino) will be counted on to lead their respective teams as the Sonoma County League baseball season gets underway this week. (Greg Clementi)
