Lions, Tigers baseball teams wrap up NBL schedule

Analy and El Molino varsity baseballers reached the end of the North Bay League season this week, with both teams logging strong finishes.
The Lions (4-8, 9-12) locked up fourth place in the NBL Redwood Division standings with a clean sweep over Healdsburg, while Analy (4-11, 8-15) took one of two in a road and home series with Rancho Cotate.
At press time the Lions were preparing to visit top-seeded Windsor in the opening round of the NBL playoff tournament on May 8 at 4 p.m. The winner will face the survivor of the Piner-Santa Rosa game on Friday, May 10 (site TBA).
The Lions are also very much in the North Coast Section playoff hunt and likely to land a spot in the Division 4 tournament next week. The NCS seeding committee meets on May 12 to fill out the brackets.
Lions get out brooms  
El Molino was out for a sweep when they closed out the NBL campaign in a road and home series with the Greyhounds, beginning with an April 30 visit to Healdsburg’s Recreation Park. The Lions jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and pounded out 11 hits en route to an 11-2 rout.
Starting pitcher Andrew Tait (4.2 IP, 5 hits, ER, 4 Ks) earned the win while relievers included Wyatt Stringfellow (1 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, K) and Chris Romeo (1.1 IP, 0 runs, K) closed it out. 
Top hitters were Jordan Hamner (3 for 4, 2B, 3 runs, 2 RBIs), Pat Atkinson (3 for 4, 2 runs), Weston Lewis (2 for 2, 4 runs), Shane Barron (1 for 1, 2B, run, 2 RBIs), Stringfellow (1 for 4, 2 RBIs) and Cole Van Stone (1 for 2).
El Mo sent senior hurler Sam Wilson-Mietz (6 IP, 6 hits, ER, 5 Ks) to the hill in the May 2 finale in Forestville, with the veteran ace putting up zeros through the first five innings. The Lions broke a scoreless tie with a six-run explosion in the sixth to propel them to a 6-1 victory. 
Leading hitters included Atkinson (1 for 2, 2 RBIs), Wilson-Mietz (1 for 3, run, 2 RBIs), Barron (1 for 1, run, RBI), Sam Kenny (1 for 2), Gabe Wallace (1 for 1) and Lewis (1 for 2, run).
Tigers notch win  
Analy opened a two-game set with Rancho Cotate in Rohnert Park on May 1, as senior ace Tyler Stasiowski (7 IP, 5 hits, ER, 9 Ks) logged a stellar outing to lift the Tigers to a 4-1 victory.  Swinging hot bats were Colton Lomonto (2 for 3, run, RBI), Zack Eling (2 for 3), Noah Rabin (1 for 4, 3B, RBI), Thomas O’Brien (1 for 3, run), Dalton Goodrum (1 for 3) and Max Voelkel (1 for 3, run).
The Tigers hosted the Cougars in Friday’s NBL finale, spotting Rancho a 4-0 lead after two. Analy scratched for solo runs in the fourth and fifth but the visitors hung on for a 7-4 win.
Pitcher Alex Leopard took the loss while top batters included Will St. Martin (3 for 3, 2B, HR, 2 runs, RBI), Voelkel (2 for 4), Ethan Silverstrich (1 for 3, 2B, run), Lomonto (1 for 1, RBI) and Eling (1 for 3).
The Tigers entertained Windsor in Saturday’s non-league clash, as the Jags built an 8-0 lead after four. Analy clawed back with four runs in both the fifth and seventh frames but Windsor powered to a 12-8 victory. O’Brien took the loss, and top hitters were Silverstrich (2 for 3, run), Alex Fitch (1 for 4, 2B, run, RBI), Lomonto (1 for 4), Rabin (1 for 3, 2 runs, RBI), O’Brien (1 for 4) and St. Martin (1 for 3, run, RBI).