Trojans early strike subdues Sonoma

There were eight runs scored in the first inning of Wednesday night’s postseason Sonoma County League Tournament first-round game at Arnold Field.

Unfortunately, the third-seeded Sonoma Valley High School varsity baseball boys couldn’t account for any of the runs as second-seeded Petaluma got off to a blazing start by putting up an eight-spot in the bottom of the first.

With senior starting pitcher Mitch Hood having a rare off night and not making it through the opening frame, junior Thomas Crumly took over the mound duties and kept the Trojans in check, stringing four straight shutout innings together to give Sonoma a chance to climb back into contention.

After four scoreless innings, the Dragons finally broke loose and cut Petaluma’s lead in half by tallying four runs in the top of the fifth, with standout senior Dan Deely collecting the big hit of the frame by scorching a two-RBI double to the base of the left-centerfield fence.

But Sonoma couldn’t score again, and the Trojans added one more run in the bottom of the sixth for a 9-4 victory.

While Petaluma advances to tonight’s SCL Tourney title game at Arnold Field against top-seeded league-champion Analy, the Dragons – with a 12-13 overall record and 8-4 SCL mark – must wait until Sunday’s North Coast Section Division-3 seeding meeting to see if their postseason will continue.

In its loss to the Trojans, Sonoma’s boys were paced by senior Jack Murphy’s two singles and an RBI; senior Dan Deely’s double, two RBIs and one run scored; a single and run each by senior Vinny Albano, junior CJ Vitale and freshman Carson Snyder; and senior Jimmy Flatt and sophomore Spencer McNairy’s single apiece.

Last Saturday, the Dragons took the long trek north to Eureka for an earlier rained-out nonleague game between the two NCS Division-3 teams and Sonoma, which held a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the 10th inning, was trimmed 4-3 by the hosting Loggers, who tallied two runs in the bottom of the 10th.

Rounding out the varsity Dragon boys’ roster – directed by head coach Don Lyons and assistant coaches Mario Alioto, Brian Alden, Jody Ray and Nate Rowland – are seniors and Jack Murphy; juniors Thomas Crumly, Kyle Dunevent, Graham Herder and Jacob Little; and sophomore MacLean Meyn.

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