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Ace Alton whiffs 10 as Dragons wallop Windsor in SCL opener

 

On, finally, a warm, or more like hot, early spring day after a chilly and rainy March, Sonoma Valley High School’s varsity baseball boys backed a dominating pitching performance from senior ace Sam Alton with plenty of offensive punch, which added up to Wednesday’s triumphant start to the Sonoma County League season.

The visiting Dragons struck for three first-inning runs, added three more in the top of the second, and topped off their scoring with another three spot in the seventh frame, and Alton fired a complete-game four-hitter en route to their impressive 9-2 SCL win over Windsor.

Backing Alton’s strong mound effort – 10 strikeouts, including a three-strikeout fifth, one walk and two earned runs allowed – was Sonoma’s defense, with key plays made by senior centerfielder Kevin Deely, junior catcher Sam Morgan, and infield juniors Chris Swanson and Will Rose, and sophomores Jonah Son and Brennan Cole.

Leading the Dragons offensively were Cole’s two doubles, one single, two RBIs and one run scored; Swanson’s double, single, RBI and two runs; Son’s double, RBI and two runs; Morgan’s single, RBI and two runs; senior Sean Daly’s single and RBI; junior Sam Keechler’s single; and Rose’s and junior Ryan Matteo’s run each.

Rounding out the Sonoma boys’ roster – directed by head coach Don Lyons and assistant coaches Mario Alioto, Jody Ray, Joe Schiebold and Dave Studdert – are seniors Alec Berthoud, Steven McGunagle and Dylan Thomas-Briggs; juniors Colin Clyde, Michael Hernandez, Chandler Kelley and Will Murphy.

The Dragons (4-4 overall, 1-0 SCL) will host both SCL foe Healdsburg at 7 p.m. tonight, and nonleague Eureka in a rained-out makeup game at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, April 2. at Arnold Field.

Sonoma’s inaugural Green and White Alumni Baseball Game takes place at 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, at Arnold Field, with a pre-game get-together and alumni batting practice session set for Friday, April 8.

Any Sonoma alumnus interested in playing can contact Sonoma varsity head coach Don Lyons at 996-7030 or dlyons@sonomavly.k12.ca.us.