High school baseball roundup: Sonoma Valley's offense breaks out against El Molino

A “bounce-back” win is what Sonoma Valley needed after consecutive crushing losses to Petaluma and Analy, and that is exactly what the Dragons got on Friday night in a 13-1 drubbing of host El Molino.

“We lost two pretty tough games in the past week, so the team was licking its wounds,” Sonoma coach Don Lyons said. “The guys came out ready to play good baseball today.”

The victory keeps the Dragons (11-9, 5-4) in third place in the Sonoma County League and in the thick of the race for the four-team league postseason tournament.

El Molino (9-9, 2-6) remains in sixth place in the SCL.

The Dragons broke out to an 11-1 lead after three innings and ended it after five innings.

“Our kids were definitely fired up to play today based on our last two losses,” Lyons said.

Shane O'Malley (four innings, one unearned run, three hits, five strikeouts) got the win for Sonoma and Sam Wilson-Mietz (?-inning, four earned runs) took the loss for the Lions.

“O'Malley had his two-seam fastball working,” Lyons said. “He was pitching inside and forcing their batters to adjust.”

Colton Mertens (4-5, 4 runs, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs) led the Dragons at the plate.

Piner 19, Elsie Allen 1

The visiting Prospectors (6-12, 4-5) had their way with the Lobos (0-8, 0-8), whose pitching corps walked 12 batters and whose defense committed five errors that led to 10 unearned runs for Piner.

“The game got out of hand early. We were up 2-1 after the first inning and then it got ugly,” Piner coach Nick Green said. “We took advantage of our opportunities today.”

Piner slugged 13 hits and had 30 baserunners in the five-inning game.

Kameron Fotouhi (three innings) registered the victory for Piner and Edgar Figueroa (three innings) took the loss for the Lobos.

The Prospectors offense was driven by Jalen Baker (3-3, two doubles, two RBIs, five runs) and Jason Miller (2-3, double, two RBIs, fourruns).

Piner remains in fourth place and in good position to qualify for the SCL postseason tournament. Elsie Allen remains in last place, still searching for its first league win.

Casa Grande 9, Cardinal Newman 3

The first-place Gauchos (14-4, 9-1) continue to roll through the North Bay League as they dispatched the seventh-place host Cardinals (9-9, 3-6) with five runs in the final two innings to ensure the victory.

“It was a good league win. We are playing well right now,” Casa Grande coach Paul Maytorena said. “Our starting pitcher (Quinton Gago) threw first-pitch strikes and pounded the zone. His off-speed pitches were effective.”

Gago (four innings, three earned runs, five hits, five strikeouts) earned the win while Nathan Cox (four innings, four earned runs, six hits, five strikeouts) took the loss for the Cardinals.

“Cox had us baffled the first time around the order,” Maytorena said. “But we extended the game and got a few clutch hits.”

Casa Grande raked out 11 hits and was led by Spencer Torkelson (3-4, RBI, run) and A.J. Miller (2-4, double, two RBIs, two runs).

Montgomery 9, Santa Rosa 3

The visiting Vikings (8-11, 5-5) were led by starting pitcher Nick Smith (six innings, two earned runs, four hits, eight strikeouts) on the hill and at the plate. Smith (2-5, three RBIs, run) had the key hit in the game, a bases-clearing booming double to deep center field in the sixth inning to break the game open.

“This win pulls us back to .500 in league,” Vikings coach Zac Ward said. “It was a big win after two loses and it keeps us in the NBL postseason playoff hunt.”

Fifth-place Montgomery scored four runs in the third inning and five runs in the sixth to dispatch last place Santa Rosa (3-16, 1-8).

Jesus Suarez (5? innings, four earned runs, nine hits, two strikeouts) took the loss.

In addition to Smith, Austin McDonald (1-5, double, three RBIs, two runs), Blake McDonald (3-4, RBI) and Cody Lyons (2-5, double, two runs) powered the Vikings on offense.

Windsor 4, Maria Carrillo 2

The visiting Jaguars (9-11, 4-6) profited from two errors by the Pumas (7-8, 4-3) on routine ground balls in the eighth inning to plate two runs for the upset victory. The loss likely drops Maria Carrillo out of second place in the NBL.

“This was a tough loss, bottom line, to say the least. It's a difficult loss to swallow,” Maria Carrillo coach Derek DeBenedetti said.

With the score 2-2, the Pumas had bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs but didn't get the clutch hit that would have sealed victory.

“We had several opportunities to win but we didn't make the pitches and plays when we needed to,” DeBenedetti said. “Windsor took advantage of their opportunities.”

Sixth-place Windsor was led by starting pitcher Tanner Kane (seven innings, two earned runs, four hits), who got a no-decision but was 4-4 at the plate with a double, RBI and scored two runs. Eric Begley got the win in relief, coming on in the eighth. Begley walked the leadoff batter but got three consecutive ground-outs to slam the door.

The Pumas' Kody Kent (three innings, two earned runs, three hits) took the loss in relief. Patrick Gavin led Maria Carrillo at the plate, going 2-3 with a double.