The El Molino Lions secured local bragging rights for the 2019 high school baseball season on March 30, turning back visiting Analy, 4-1 in a much-anticipated non-league skirmish in Forestville.
The game, originally scheduled for three weeks earlier, had been rained out twice before the teams finally found dry weather on Saturday.
The El Mo victory pushed the Lion’s season record to 4-4, while the Tigers fell to 3-7 on the year.
The Lions will be back on the diamond this week, weather permitting, with non-league road and home dates at St. Mary’s on April 2, Berean Christian on April 4 at 4 p.m. and home against Cloverdale and Healdsburg on Saturday, April 6, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The Tigers have scheduled home and away games against Montgomery on April 3 and April 5 and visit Ukiah next Wednesday, April 10. All games start at 4 p.m.
Lions’ Apple win
The March 30 clash of west county rivals held a bit more meaning after league realignment this year, representing the only meeting between the teams in 2019.
The Lions jumped on top with a solo run in the first to stake winning pitcher Sam Wilson-Mietz (7 IP, 2 hits, ER, 4 Ks) to an early lead, one he would not relinquish all afternoon. The Lions added a pair of insurance runs in the fourth while the Tigers struck for one in the seventh in an eventual 4-1 El Mo victory.
Analy hurler Alex Leopard (6 IP, 5 hits, 3 ERs, 5 Ks) pitched well in defeat, while top hitters were Ethan Silverstrich (1 for 3, RBI) and Leopard (1 for 2, run).
Pacing the El Mo offense were top hitters Wyatt Stringfellow (2 for 3, 2 RBIs), Andrew Tait (2 for 3, run, RBI), Weston Lewis (2 for 3, 2 runs), Jordan Hamner (1 for 3, run) and Cole Van Stone (1 for 2).
In other games last week, the Lions dropped to 0-3 in the NBL Redwood Division in a 5-1 loss to Piner on March 26, with starting pitcher Chris Romeo (5.2 IP, 3 hits, 3 ERs, 4 Ks) taking the loss in a solid outing. Top hitters included Sam Wilson-Mietz (1 for 3, run) and Lewis (1 for 3).
The Tigers (1-4 in Oak Division) fell to visiting Rancho Cotate, 11-3 on Saturday, as the Cougars tallied eight runs in the first two frames en route to the victory. Thomas O’Brien (2 IP, 6 hits, 6 ERs, 2 Ks) took the loss while Kyler Exley (4 IP, 3 hits, 3 ERs, 3 Ks) and Alex Fitch (1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs) also pitched for the Tigers. Hitting safely for Analy were Dalton Goodrum (2 for 2, RBI), Silverstrich (1 for 1, 2B, RBI), Colton Lomonto (1 for 4, run) and Zack Eling (1 for 3).
