Sonoma Valley Dragons-Justin-Sienna Braves go into extra innings

Sonoma Valley Dragons hosts San Rafael’s baseball team Friday, Pinole Valley Saturday.|

It was Sonoman against Sonoman Tuesday when the Sonoma Valley High Dragons and the Justin-Siena Braves met at Arnold Field. But it took nine innings before the game was settled as a 5-4 loss for the locals.

Justin-Sienna has eight Sonomans on its squad – Sean McElroy, Sean Prasad, Toby Hilliard, Logan Macaulay, Austin Natuzzi, Asher Sutter, Maitland Eagle and Joey Sangiacomo, as well as head Coach Jeremy Tayson and assistant coaches Craig Ray and Sam Alton. Tayson played for Sonoma Coach Don Lyons in high school and was also an assistant coach under Lyons.

The Dragons took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, but the Braves scored two runs in the top of the third to cut the margin to one. Justin tied the game in the top of the fourth when they pushed a run across.

The Dragons took the lead again in the bottom of the fifth.

Justin scored another run to tie the game in the top of the seventh, forcing extra innings before scoring the game-winning run in the top of the ninth.

Senior Shane O’Malley pitched into the seventh for the Dragons, striking out eight. Senior Carson Snyder relieved him and struck out five.

Senior Sean McElroy started for the Braves and went six innings, striking out 10.

The win was Tayson’s first as a head coach and gives the Braves a 1-1 record on the season.

The loss drops Sonoma to 0-2 on the year. Sonoma hosts San Rafael at 6:30 p.m. today, March 3, and Pinole Valley at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 4. Sonoma will also host Vintage High School at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 7.

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