El Mo beats Greyhounds; eyes run at postseason
The much-anticipated clash of Sonoma County League baseball titans lived up to advanced billing on May 2, as the defending champion Analy Tigers held off the home-standing Petaluma Trojans 2-1 in a battle of unbeatens.
The key victory was largely a product of great pitching and timely hitting, with the Tigers riding the hot hand of senior hurler Mason Snodgrass, who went the distance to notch the win in an outstanding mound effort.
The win gave Analy (9-0,16-4) sole possession of first place in the SCL standings, a game and a half up on Petaluma (7-1, 13-7) with just three dates left on the schedule.
“It was a huge win for us,” Tigers coach Jeff Ogston said, before praising his ace. “I was really proud of Mason Snodgrass, he was an absolute stud. He executed his pitches, especially in big spots and led the way for us.”
The Tigers will be back on the field on Saturday, May 6 (10 a.m.) in a non-league clash with Montgomery before resuming league action on Tuesday, May 9 against visiting El Molino (4 p.m.). Analy will host Petaluma in a rematch on May 11 and wrap up the SCL campaign on May 12 versus Elsie Allen.
Meanwhile, the Lions (3-8, 10-11) stayed in the hunt for a postseason bid with one win in three SCL outings splitting a double-header with Healdsburg (3-2 win, 5-4 loss) on May 2 before dropping a 5-0 decision to Petaluma on Friday. El Mo, will be on the bubble for NCS playoff consideration when it closes out the SCL campaign in the May 9 rematch with Analy.
Tigers claim victory
The battle for league supremacy shaped up as a pitching duel between Analy’s Snodgrass and Blake Buhrer of Petaluma. The Trojans drew first blood in the second, scratching for an unearned run and a 1-0 lead.
The Tigers answered in the top of the third when Snodgrass led off with a walk, moved to second on a passed ball. Drew Valez followed with a singled and was driven home on a double from Jack Newman. Luke Tollini added a sacrifice fly for a 2-1 Analy lead.
It was all Snodgrass needed the rest of the way, navigating the Petaluma lineup unscathed the rest of the way as the Tigers hung on for a 2-1 victory.
Snodgrass scattered eight hits and allowed no earned runs in a great performance, while top Analy hitters included Valez (2 for 3, run) and Newman (1 for 3, 2B, RBI). Buhrer deserved a better fate, firing a complete-game five hitter to take the loss.
Lions notch win
El Molino opened its latest stretch at Healdsburg on May 2, finishing up a game with the Greyhounds that was suspended in a 3-3 tie last month due to rain. Each team tallied a run to keep the score knotted at 4-4 in the sixth when Jake Peter ripped an RBI single off of Healdsburg pitcher Evan McPherson to lift the Lions to an eventual 5-4 win.
Curtis Lewis (5 IP, 5 hits, 4 ERs, 3 Ks) pitched well in a no-decision, while Sam Wilson-Mietz (2 IP, hit, 0 ERs, K) notched the mound victory for the Lions. Top hitters were Wes Hamner (2 for 3, 2B, run), Lewis (1 for 3, 2B, RBI), Wilson-Mietz (1 for 3, run, RBI) and Peter (1 for 4, RBI).
The teams took a short break before playing the second game, with the Lions drawing first blood in the third inning for a 1-0 lead. The Hounds rallied for three runs in the fourth and held off a late threat to hang on for a 3-2 victory.
Bradley Swinney (3.1 IP, 3 hits, 2 ERs, 4 Ks) and Wilson-Mietz (2.2 IP, 4 hits, 0 ERs) shared pitching duties while leading hitters included Peter (2 for 3, 2B, run, RBI), Wes Hamner (1 for 3, RBI) and Wilson-Mietz (1 for 3, run).
