The rain may be falling but softball season is in full swing for west county high school teams, as Analy and El Molino navigate respective pre-league schedules.
The defending champion Tigers (1-1) notched one win in two outings to open the campaign, combining a 17-3 rout over Terra Linda with a close, 2-1 loss at Redwood in nine innings.
Veteran coach Nick Houtz is back to lead a squad that is equal parts talent and experience, a roster that features 11 returnees, including some of the top athletes in the Redwood Empire.
The Tigers will have a tough act to follow after capturing the SCL title with an 11-1 record in 2017, going on to the NCS playoffs and an overall record of 16-11-1. The team may not skip a beat this year, boasting a deep roster and versatility up and down the line-up.
Returning to the varsity team are seniors; shortstop Claire Nelson, left fielder Gianna Bianchi and first baseman/pitcher Nicole Mearns, juniors; pitcher/utility player Carson Rasmussen, outfielder/first baseman Samantha Caughie, right fielder Emma Castleberry, catcher Makayla Kraemer and utility player Shirley Melnikoff, and sophomores; utility player Brianna Lawrence, infielder/outfielder Cameron Cordoza and third baseman Chloe Hadrich. Leah Lawrence is a first-year sophomore that will bolster the roster in a utility role.
The battle for the SCL title will no doubt be a two or three-horse race again this season, with Analy and Petaluma the clear favorites. The Tigers will open the league schedule on Tuesday, March 20 at Sonoma Valley (4 p.m.).
Tigers gain split
The Tigers pounded out 12 hits in their 17-3 romp over Terra Linda on March 6, staking pitcher Carson Rasmussen (5 IP, 4 hits, 0 ERs, K) to a winning debut.
Leading hitters included Mearns (3 for 3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs), Bianchi (3 for 4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs), Caughie (2 for 4, 2B, 2 runs, 4 RBIs), Kraemer (2 for 3, 3 runs, RBI) and Rasmussen (2 for 4, 2 runs, RBI).
Analy traveled to perennial power Redwood on March 8, as Rasmussen (8 IP, 5 hits, 0 ERs, 2 Ks) turned in a masterful performance with no reward. The game was locked in a scoreless tie after seven innings before the Tigers clawed for a run in the eighth on an RBI single by Kraemer to drive in Bianchi. Redwood tied the game in the bottom of the frame, and scratched out the winning run in the ninth inning to escape with a 2-1 victory.
Top Analy hitters were Kraemer (3 for 4, RBI, Rasmussen (2 for 5), Caughie (1 for 4) and Nelson (1 for 3).
Lions notch win
El Molino (1-5) scored their first win of the campaign on March 6 against St. Helena, pounding out 23 hits to stake junior pitcher Erika Olson to victory.
“We played very well as a team and Olson pitched a good game,” El Mo coach Steve Newcomb reported.
Pacing the hitting corps were Olson (4 for 5, 4 RBIs), Lacy Alberigi (3 for 4), Mel Deleon (3 for 5), Bridget Niclaes (3 for 5, 4 RBIs), Hayley Sheridan (3 for 4, 2 RBIs) and Natalie Alberigi (2 for 4).
The Lions played host to Clear Lake two days later, with one bad inning sabotaging an otherwise solid outing. The Cardinals pushed across 10 runs in the fateful third inning and never looked back en route to a 12-1 win. Victoria Briano (1 for 2, run) collected the lone hit for the Lions.
El Molino finished the week with a Saturday home doubleheader against Kelseyville, dropping both ends (17-16 and 9-7).
The Lions will kick off the SCL schedule at home on Tuesday, March 20 versus Elsie Allen.
