Analy was victimized by an overpowering pitching effort by Alexis Scalzo of Bishop O’Dowd and the Lady Tigers fell 4-0 in the division III semifinal game played in Castro Valley late Wednesday afternoon.
Freshman Carson Rasmussen rapped a game opening double along the right field line to open the game but the Tiger bats went silent the rest of the way. Scalzo made the most of solid control and a baffling change-up to strike out 7 Analy batters.
At one point Scalzo retired 14 consecutive Analy hitters before Claire Nelson stroked a clean single into center field.
Tiger pitcher Saja Spearman-Weaver deserved a better fate in this one as she limited the Lady Dragons to no earned runs in six innings of work. Four errors committed by the Analy infield set up each run. Spearman-Weaver finished her senior season with a stellar performance by limiting the second seeded Dragons to only four scattered hits. She wound up with a glossy 19-5 pitching record for the season for the Sonoma County League regular season co-champions.
Third baseman Michael Edwards-Gonzales doubled in two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning for Bishop O’Dowd after a key misplay at first base failed to record the third out of the frame. Edwards-Gonzalez had two hits in the game.
Lady Tiger third baseman Jayde Hill turned in a web gem in the bottom of the fourth inning when she gloved a twisting pop fly with her back to the infield. The play temporarily stymied the Dragons who went on to plate three runs in the inning.
O’Dowd (21-4) went on to face San Marin of Novato at St. Mary’s College on Saturday for the North Coast Section title.
Prior to the game and with both teams looking on down the foul lines veteran Analy coach Nick Houtz was honored as the softball coach of the year in the NCS.
“Even though we didn’t win the big one I am proud of the girls and we had a great season,” he said after the loss. The Lady Tigers finished with a record of 21-6.
