Dragons, Meyn muzzle Petaluma

Talking about stepping up and meeting a double-challenge week head-on after completing an impressive two-week transformation, the young Sonoma Valley High School varsity boys’ baseball team took a rapid growth spurt and now is the early leader in the Sonoma County League.

In the wake of their upset of defending champion Analy in Sebastopol last Tuesday, the Dragons hosted longtime rival Petaluma, the other SCL title favorite, Friday night at Arnold Field and rode junior right-hander Maclean Meyn’s second-straight dominating pitching performance to a dramatic 2-1 triumph.

With the stunning two-win week, Sonoma’s battling boys find themselves in first place with a 3-0 SCL record.

“This is a young team without a lot of varsity experience that struggled finding its way in the preseason. With the coaching staff’s patience and encouragement, they persevered and, after striking out 21 times in a scrimmage against Casa Grande, finally calmed down and made it happen this week,” said Sonoma head coach Don Lyons.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve beaten both Analy and Petaluma in the same week and I’m so proud of how all these guys have bought into what we’re doing with this team and taking it upon themselves to constantly improve. They make it so much fun to coach. Knowing we still have a long road ahead of us, and no matter what happens, these guys will keep competing.”

After a slow start in which the visiting Trojans tallied their lone run, Meyn – coming off beating Elsie Allen with a 10-run rule, five-inning, no-hit perfect game – settled into a groove and got stronger as the game went on, finishing with a seven-inning three-hitter, striking out eight, walking two and hitting a pair of batters.

Sonoma could muster only three hits itself, with sophomore Carson Snyder picking up two singles; senior CJ Vitale singling once and producing an RBI along with Meyn; and senior Kyle Dunevent and sophomore Ethan Vitale each scoring a run.

The Dragons travel to Santa Rosa today to face league foe Piner before hosting Healdsburg in a 4 p.m. clash on Friday, April 17, at Arnold Field.