Baseball holds on, softball and tennis struggle

Friday afternoon in Napa, the Sonoma Valley Dragons baseball team defeated the Vintage Crushers 6-4 in 8 innings, riding the play of pitcher Landon Waldrop.

Waldrop held Vintage scoreless for the first two innings, allowing the Dragons offense to build a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning.

On offense, Dragon right-fielder Talon Bragg reached first base off a missed opportunity to throw him out, then he stole second base to get into scoring position. Nick Sebastiani singled Bragg to third base, and Bragg scored on a subsequent wild pitch.

Adrian Buckley ground balled a hit to the defense’s shortstop, but the his was mishandled, allowing Sebastiani to score. Andrew Bonfigli singled to bring home Buckley. The third inning ended with Sonoma ahead 3-0.

Vintage rallied, using a walk and five singles to take the lead 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Leading off the top of the sixth inning, Waldrop doubled down the left-field line. Centerfielder Adam Duffield moved Waldrop to third base on a ground ball to the second baseman. Then Beau Jurasek tied the game at four with a sacrifice fly to left field to bring Waldrop home.

Sonoma and Vintage went scoreless in the seventh, forcing Sonoma into its second extra-inning game of the week. In the top of the Eighth, a leadoff Buckley walk was followed by a Bonfigli single. Waldrop's second double of the game scored Buckley for the go-ahead run and put Bonfigli on third. A bunt single by Jurasek scored Bonfigli for an insurance run.

Vintage threatened briefly in the bottom of the 8th with a pair of singles but failed to capitalize those hits on the scoreboard.

Waldrop pitched five innings for the Dragons, allowing 4 earned runs on five hits and five walks while striking out 2. Duffield pitched an inning of middle relief, striking out two and not giving up a run. Buckley took care of the final two innings without giving up a run.

Gauchos claim Dragons on softball field

Sonoma Valley Dragons Varsity softball watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover in an 18-6 loss to Casa Grande High School on Thursday.

The high-scoring affair elicited eight hits from the Dragons, but Casa Grande doubled the Dragons’ effort with 16 hits of their own.

Sonoma Valley Dragons Varsity saw the ball well today, racking up eight hits in the game. Victoria Magnani had the only homer of the day for the Dragons in the first inning. And Kayla Amormino hit a triple in the second inning, adding three runs to the Dragons’ scoreboard in the process.

Additionally, Magnani, Katherine Kiser and Ellie Quackenbush each racked up multiple hits for Sonoma Valley Dragons varsity team. Quackerbush, Kiser and Magnani each had two hits.

But the Dragons’ batters were no match for the offense of Casa Grande who scored on a fielder's choice by Kylie Carlomagno, a double by Macey Shern, an error, a single by Mackenzie MacQuarrie, a single by Hannah Edwards, and a single by Maddie Fannin in the first inning.

Pitcher Kassedy Midgley took the loss for Sonoma Valley Dragons Varsity after surrendering seven runs on seven hits over one inning, striking out one.

Pitcher Marrisa Brody earned the victory for Casa Grande. She allowed four hits and five runs over one and one-third innings, striking out two and walking zero. Jordan Baughn threw four and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen.

Sonoma tennis team falls

Sonoma lost to Napa 7-0 on Tuesday, March 22.

Two days later on Thursday, March 24, the Dragons lost to Justin Sienna 5-2. While the results were underwhelming, the matches provide more opportunity for Sonoma Valley’s young players to earn experience.

“Another learning week for the Dragons,” Coach Walt Williams said.

“Sky Staes and Joey Fiorito both won in the third set tiebreaker against a strong Justin Sienna team,” Williams added.

The Dragons will host Casa Grande on Tuesday before heading to Napa on Wednesday and Vintage on Thursday.

Contact the reporter Caleb Logue at calebjlogue@gmail.com.