Tiger hardballers in dogfight for repeat title

West County baseball
The race for the Sonoma County League baseball title will likely be decided in the next 10 days, as the defending champion Analy Tigers make a final push for a coveted repeat.
At the start of play this week the Tigers (8-0, 15-4) were in a virtual deadlock with Petaluma (7-0, 13-6) for the top spot in the SCL standings, with Sonoma Valley (5-4) and Piner (4-5) filling out the upper division of teams. Rounding out the league standings were Healdsburg (2-5), El Molino (2-6) and Elsie Allen (0-8).
Analy was preparing to resume SCL action in a critical May 2 (after press time) visit to Petaluma, followed by a non-league clash with Montgomery on Saturday, May 6 (10 a.m.). On Tuesday, May 9, the Tigers will host the Lions in a rematch at 4 p.m.   
Meanwhile El Molino (2-6, 9-9) was in a fight of a different kind in a battle to stay NCS playoff eligible after weathering recent losses to Piner (7-2), Petaluma (13-1) and Sonoma Valley (13-1). The Lions were in final preparations for a May 2 double-header at Healdsburg, finishing up a suspended rain-out (tied 3-3) before starting the rematch.  El Mo will visit Petaluma this Friday, May 5 (4 p.m.).
Analy keeps pace      
The Tigers were fresh off a key 6-3 win over Sonoma Valley when it played host to Healdsburg on April 28, roughing up Greyhounds’ pitching for a combined seven runs in the first two frames en route to a 9-3 win. 
Mason Snodgrass (WP, 3 IP, 3 hits, ER, 5 Ks) and Evan Peelen (4 IP, 1 hit, ER, 6 Ks) joined forces on the mound, while top hitters were Jack Newman (2 for 3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs), Andy Noonan (1 for 1, 3B, 2 runs), Austin Alvarez (1 for 1), Keaton Bates (1 for 2, 2 RBIs), Carson Pforsich (1 for 2), Jordan Parks (1 for 1, 3B, run, RBI) and Snodgrass (1 for 3, HR, run, 3 RBIs).
The Lions opened a tough stretch of games on April 25 against visiting Piner, sending pitcher Sam Wilson-Mietz to the hill opposite Prospector’s starter Jake Wiggins. The game was knotted at 1-1 until the fourth when Piner struck for four runs to bust it open, adding two more in the fifth in an eventual 7-2 win. Collecting hits for the Lions were Shane Spelman (1 for 2, run, RBI) and Jake Peter (1 for 2).