Tiger hardballers off to fast start on preseason circuit

Defending SCL champs return 10 veterans to talented squad
The reigning Sonoma County League baseball champion Analy Tigers will be gunning for a repeat in 2017 as the season kicks into full swing this month. 
Analy is already off to a 4-1 start, notching wins over San Marin (4-1), Windsor (8-1), Justin Siena (5-2) and Eureka (5-0), with the lone loss coming at the hands of Ukiah in a 1-0, 9-inning heartbreaker.
Led by veteran returning coach Jeff Ogston, the Tigers are coming off a tremendous 23-7 campaign that included an 11-1 mark to capture the SCL pennant and a pair of wins in the North Coast Section Division 3 playoffs.
Analy graduated nine seniors from that 2016 squad but may not skip a beat with a strong core of 10 seasoned veterans to this year’s team. 
The list of Tigers’ returnees includes seniors; outfielder/pitcher Mason Snodgrass, catcher Todd Noonan, outfielder Andy Noonan, first baseman/pitcher Drew Valez, third baseman/catcher Kevin Eling, shortstop/second baseman Keaton Bates, shortstop/pitcher Jack Newman, third baseman/pitcher Jordan Parks, outfielder Spencer Vogel and pitcher Evan Peelen.
First-year varsity players are junior third baseman/outfielder Carson Pforsich, catcher/utilityman Jeff Pearson, junior second baseman Austin Alvarez, senior first baseman/pitcher Joe Bogdan, junior pitcher/first baseman Evan Alvarez, junior outfielder Bennett Simpson, junior second baseman/outfielder Luke Tollini, senior outfielder Clayton Bowles, junior pitcher Luke Bertling and junior outfielder Tony Siri.    
The Tigers will be among the favorites to repeat as SCL champions this spring, with the top challengers figuring to be Petaluma and Sonoma Valley.
Analy (4-1) resumes pre-league action on March 14 (after press time) at Miramonte, followed by a March 17 home tilt against Cardinal Newman (4 p.m.).
El Mo scores wins 

The El Molino Lions (4-1) are also out to a fast start this month, recording a clean sweep over visiting Willits in a doubleheader on March 11.
The Lions benefited from strong outings by winning pitcher Curtis Lewis (5 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 5 Ks) and reliever Andrew Tait (2 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 K) in the opener against the Wolverines, with El Mo plating runs in every inning except the first and fifth en route to a 5-0 win.
Leading the Lions’ 12-hit attack were Wesley Hamner (2 for 4, RBI), Wyatt Stringfellow (2 for 3, run), Lewis (2 for 3, run, RBI), Bradley Swinney (2 for 3, run, RBI), Sam Wilson-Mietz (2 for 3, run, RBI), Eric Nils-Carlson (1 for 3, run) and Jake Peter (1 for 4, RBI).
El Mo hurlers Garrett Crane (3 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 4 Ks) and Jack Belli (2 IP, 2 hits, 0 ERs, 2 Ks) joined forces for the Lions in the nightcap against Willits, getting more than enough run support from their teammates in a 12-2 drubbing.
Swinging hot bats were Peter (3 for 4, 2B, 2 RBIs), Hamner (2 for 2, 2B, run, 3 RBIs) and Wilson-Mietz (2 for 3, 2B, 3 runs, 3 RBIs).
The Lions will embark on a four-game week starting on March 13 (after press  time) at Windsor, followed by outings at Lower Lake (March 17, 4 p.m.) and a home double-dip with Middletown on Saturday, March 18 (10 a.m. and 1 p.m.).