YEAR IN REVIEW: 2018, a year to remember in local sports (part 1)

As we near the end of another year, it’s only fitting that we look back and pay tribute to some of the best moments in local sports.
Although there were too many stories to list, we’ve tried to capture some of the highlights from the first half of 2018 in words and photographs. 
We’d also like to take time to thank the many contributors that help make our sports pages a true product of the community each week. Your continuing support is greatly appreciated.
The following is part one of a two part series.

(1) Drive – Analy all-league guard JJ Fain (#21) drove to the hoop in a January clash with visiting El Molino in a solid 2017-18 basketball campaign. Under departing veteran coach Brett Page, the Flying Tigers wrapped up the season with a 7-5 league mark and 10-18 overall. Along the way Analy landed spots in both the Sonoma County League and North Coast Section playoff tournaments. Other team standouts included  Zach Binsfeld, Quinn Vermeulen, Quinn Whisman, Brendan Martinez, Avi Frey, Nic Visser, William St. Martin, Luke Bertling, Cason Roberts and Tony Siri.  Photo by David Aires

(2) Battle on the pitch – Analy soccer star Lily Ziemer (#18) fought for possession in the North Coast Section Division 3 championship match against Campolindo in February. Under the watchful eye of veteran coach Brittney Briones, the Tigers won their fifth straight league title with a dominant SCL season, landing the top seed in the NCS tournament.  Although Analy lost 3-0 to Campolindo, the 2017-18 campaign was arguably the best in the program’s history. The team qualified for the Nor Cal State Tournament but declined to compete due to numerous injuries. Other standouts for the Tigers were Tannin Klunis, Kaija Bazzano, two-sport stars Isabel Housman and Claire Brown, Sydney Hargrave, Kiara Heacock, Jennah Copeland, Emily Gritsch, Isabella Gilbraith, Maisy Butler, Megan Lucas and Macee Wacholz.  Photo by Greg Clementi

(3) State caliber – Analy brothers (l-r) sophomore Preston Bagan and senior Trevor Bagan etched their names in the sports history books in March, representing the Tigers at the prestigious CIF State Wrestling Championships in Bakersfield. It was the first time in the long history of Analy wrestling that brothers qualified for state in the same season. The season was the last for the longtime Tiger coaching family of Ryan, Jimmy and Jim Stevens. Photos provided

(4) Strong season – Analy’s Claire Brown scrambled for a loose ball during a competitive 2017-18 basketball campaign under coach Raquel Gomes. The Lady Tigers finished up their final Sonoma County League season in fourth place with a 7-5 record, moving on to the SCL and NCS playoff tournaments before ending the year at 13-15. Team leaders also included Isabel Housman, Alexis Dibene, Sierra Atkins, Lauren Lehmann, Julie Ambrose, Lauren Murnin and Aleah Armstrong. Photo by Greg Clementi

(5) Spring hardball – El Molino pitcher Sam Wilson-Mietz fired a fastball in a league baseball game in Forestville in April. Behind head coach Justin Lewis, the Lions enjoyed an outstanding 2018 campaign that featured an overall record of 14-10 and trips to both the Sonoma County League and North Coast Section playoffs. The Lions were among the best hitting clubs in the league, carrying a team batting average of .370. Other team standouts were seniors Curt Lewis, Wes Hamner, Andy Junge, Jack Belli, Bradley Swinney and Shane Spelman; juniors Jordan Hamner, Thomas Siegert, Sam McMinimy, Aaron Daniels, Sam Kenny, and Wyatt Stringfellow; sophomores Patrick Atkinson and Cole Van Stone; and freshman Weston Lewis.  Photo by Greg Clementi

(6) Setting the bar – Senior track and field star Jack Fricker turned in a Herculean performance to capture individual titles in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles, long jump and triple jump at the Sonoma County League Championships in May. Also winning league titles for the Lions were Austin Kelsey (shot put), Avery Ransome (discus), Kassidy Sani (shot put) and Lily Krauss (discus). The great effort helped the Lions’ boys squad to its second straight league title. Photo by Michael Lucid

(7) Girls of spring – The 2018 Analy softball team enjoyed an outstanding spring campaign under longtime coach Nick Houtz, going 9-3 in the SCL before moving on to the league and North Coast Section playoff tournaments to finish at 18-9. Standouts included seniors Gianna Bianchi, Nicole Mearns and Claire Nelson; juniors Samantha Caughie, Emma Castleberry, Carson Rasmussen, Makayla Kraemer and Shirley Melnikoff; sophomores Cameron Cordoza, Chloe Hadrich, Brianna Lawrence and Leah Lawrence; and freshmen Olivia Franceschi, Lizzie Hoffman and Emma Bowen. Photo provided