It’s been a challenging start for Analy and El Molino varsity baseball teams in the early stages of their respective North Bay League seasons, as evidenced by a pair of divisional losses for both last week.
The Tigers fell in home and away outings to Ukiah (3-1, 9 innings) and Maria Carrillo (5-4) to push their NBL Oak Division record to 1-2 and 2-3 overall, while the Lions dropped successive games to Santa Rosa (6-2) and Windsor (10-0) to fall to 0-2 in the NBL Redwood Division and 3-2 on the year.
This week, Analy will compete in the annual A.L. Rabinovitz Tournament hosted by Montgomery on March 19 and 20, while the Lions remain idle during spring break.
Tigers lose a heartbreaker
Analy played host to Ukiah in an NBL clash on March 13, with ace hurler Tyler Stasiowski climbing the hill for yet another strong outing. The hard-throwing senior allowed just three hits and one walk, while fanning six as the game moved to extra innings knotted at 1-1. It wasn’t quite enough, as the Wildcats pushed across two runs in the fateful ninth inning to pull out a 3-1 victory. Pacing the Analy offense were top hitters Dalton Goodrum (1 for 4), Colton Lamonto (1 for 3, RBI), Noah Rabin (1 for 4) and Zack Eling (1 for 2).
The Tigers traveled to Maria Carrillo two days later, with Thomas O’Brien (3 IP, 5 hits, 3 ERs, K) and Alex Leopard (3 IP, 3 IP, ER, 4 Ks) splitting mound duties in a pair of solid outings. The Tigers took a 4-2 lead after three innings, but the Pumas would claw back in a three-run fourth all they’d need for an eventual 5-4 victory. Pacing the Analy attack were Goodrum (2 for 2, run), Stasiowski (2 for 3, run, RBI), Lomonto (1 for 2, run), Eling (1 for 2) and Will St. Martin (1 for 4, run, RBI).
Lions fall to Panthers, Jaguars
El Molino opened the league season at home against Santa Rosa on March 13, taking a 1-0 advantage after three before the Panthers clawed for a four-run fourth to surge into the lead. The visitors would not relinquish the cushion the rest of the way as Santa Rosa cruised to a 6-2 win.
Pat Atkinson (5 IP, 2 hits, 4 ERs, 5 Ks) logged a solid outing, while Andrew Tait (2 IP, 3 hits, ER, K) pitched well in relief. Top hitters were Sam Wilson-Mietz (2 for 3, run), Cole Van Stone (1 for 3) and Sam Kenny (1 for 3, RBI).
The Lions ran into a buzz-saw in Windsor pitcher Tyler Hellums in Friday’s home tilt with the Jaguars, as the senior ace victimized El Mo hitters in a complete-game no-hit, no-run performance. The effort was more than enough for the Jags, who cruised to a 10-0 victory.
