Fresh off claiming a Sonoma County League co-title behind a 1-0 season-ending mound gem by right-hand junior ace Maclean Meyn, the Sonoma Valley High School varsity baseball boys started the annual SCL Tournament with a strikingly similar performance by junior left-hander Max Yankovich.
The top-seeded Dragons hosted fourth-seeded Piner in Tuesday night’s SCL Tourney opener at Arnold Field and, despite committing four errors, managed to twice overcome one-run deficits for a 3-2 lead that turned into the final score as Yankovich struck out 11 batters in going the distance for the win.
While Sonoma was out-hit five to four by the visiting Prospectors, the key hit came off the bat of Meyn, who plated the deciding run with a single in the bottom of the fifth inning.
In Wednesday night’s other first-round game, second-seeded co-champion Petaluma nipped third-seeded Analy 2-1 and advanced to last night’s SCL Tourney title game at Arnold Field and a showdown with the Dragons – results not available at presstime.
Along with the pitching of Yankovich, who allowed no earned runs, walked two and also scored a run, the young Sonoma boys were led by Meyn’s single and RBI; sophomore Carson Snyder’s double and run; sophomore Ethan Vitale’s single and run; and sophomore Shane O’Malley’s single.
The postseason continues for the Dragons, who posted an 11-1 record en route to winning the SCL co-title, and now wait for Sunday’s North Coast Section seeding meeting to see where they fit into the NCS championship playoffs picture.
UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: