Analy bats come alive to break open tight game
FORESTVILLE – The defending Sonoma County League champion Analy Tigers continued their stranglehold on first place on April 14, pounding out 15 hits against home-standing El Molino to turn back the Lions, 7-1 in the first of two scheduled “Apple” games.
Analy starter Mason Snodgrass was the beneficiary of the offensive attack, but carried more than his share of the load in firing a complete-game, four-hitter to throttle the El Mo attack. It was the fifth straight win for the surging Tigers, while the Lions dropped their third straight ballgame.
The Tiger’s win came on the heels of a well-played 3-2 victory over visiting Drake three days earlier, pushing their overall record to 11-4, while the Lions fell to 8-6 on the season.
At the start of play this week Analy sat atop the SCL standings at 4-0, followed by Petaluma (3-0), Sonoma Valley (3-2), Piner (2-3), Healdsburg (1-2), El Molino (1-3) and Elsie Allen (0-4).
At press time the Tigers were preparing to embark on a three-game road swing, beginning on April 18 at Elsie Allen, followed by a Friday, April 21 visit to Piner (4 p.m.). The Lions will continue their home-stand on April 21 against Elsie Allen and entertain Piner next Tuesday, April 25 (4 p.m.).
Tigers claim bragging rights
Analy senior Mason Snodgrass climbed the hill opposite El Mo starter Sam Wilson-Mietz in the April 14 clash of rivals, as the Tigers pushed across a solo run in the second to grab an early lead.
Analy plated another run in the fourth before the Lions struck for a solo tally in the bottom of the frame to cut the deficit to 2-1. It was as close as the game would get, as the Tigers mounted a decisive three-run uprising in the fifth, tacking on solo runs in the sixth and seventh en route to a 7-1 win.
Snodgrass notched the win while Wilson-Mietz took the loss. Curtis Lewis pitched in relief for the Lions. Top hitters for the Tigers included Kevin Eling (3 for 4), Keaton Bates (2 for 5), Todd Noonan (2 for 4), Jeff Pearson (2 for 4) and Jordan Parks (2 for 3). Leading the El Mo attack were Jake Peter (2 for 3), Wesley Hamner (1 for 3) and Lewis (1 for 3).
The Tigers played host to Drake in a non-league contest on April 11, staking starter Evan Peelen to a 2-0 lead after four. Analy made it 3-0 The Pirates clawed back with a solo run in the fifth before Analy’s Luke Tollini drove home Bennett Simpson with an insurance score in the bottom of the frame for a 3-1 lead. Reliever Drew Valez took over for Peelen, tossing the final two innings to preserve a 3-2 victory.
Pacing the attack were Tollini (2 for 3, 2 runs, RBI) and Todd Noonan (1 for 3, RBI).
