Analy squeaks by Petaluma to capture Rabinovitz title

Analy punched across the eventual winning run without benefit of a hit in the top of the sixth inning and went on to edge Petaluma, 8-7, to capture the 21st Rabinovitz Tournament championship in Santa Rosa on Wednesday.

The Tigers, who have now split the last two title contests with the Trojans, squandered an early 6-0 lead, but rallied for the game winner to give reliever Nolan Alvarez a well-deserved victory. Alvarez retired the last 10 Trojan batters without yielding a base runner.

Petaluma used five pitchers in an effort to stem an early assault by the Tigers who pushed their early advantage to 7-4 with single runs in the third and fourth frames. Three fly balls bounced in front of hesitant Trojan outfielders who battled the late afternoon sun on the Montgomery High diamond.

Junior Brendon White threw a scoreless fifth inning for Petaluma, and received solid help from the Trojan infield as it made a slick double play on a ground ball turned by the keystone combination of Drake Paretti and Logan Douglas.

The Trojans tied it up with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning highlighted by a RBI double by Ben Sanderson and two consecutive infield errors. Overall Petaluma had eight hits with senior Greg Thomas singling twice in the big comeback.

Luke Wheless, the fourth reliever of the day for the Trojans, was the hard-luck loser as he went the final two frames without giving up a hit.

Wheless, who earned a save against Chico in the first game of the tournament, walked David Cadoni to open the sixth inning. Cadoni moved to second on a stolen base and advanced to third on an infield out to second baseman Paretti.

The Trojans almost got out of the inning unscathed, but a pitch from Wheless got past the catcher and Cadoni came skidding across the plate with the game-wining tally.

Analy hit the ball solidly, and finished with 12 hits to score in five of seven frames. Devon Ogsten, Drew Valez and Matt Kellogg each had a pair of hits for the Tigers.

Valez also made the defensive play of the game when he dove to glove a bid for a base hit by Paretti.

Gabbert wound up with five hits, and scored four runs in the three tournament games for the Trojans. The hard-hitting Petaluma outfielder was named the top hitter in the tournament. Zack Donovan of the winning Tigers was chosen the top pitcher.

Also named to the all tournament team were Trojan pitchers Hunter Williams and Will Nevin who both posted victories on Tuesday.

With four games in five days, Petaluma coach Paul Cochrun liked what he saw. “I’m happy with our play going into League,” he said. “We did a lot of things right, including coming back in that final game. A lot of teams would have folded up.

“Our pitching was very good, especially on the first day with Hunter and Will. Brendon White also threw a no-hitter earlier against Concord.”

Petaluma also got some strong defensive help with the addition of sophomore Douglas at shortstop. “Logan played well in the tournament, and he made some great plays against Concord,” noted Cochrun.

It will be a quick turnaround for Analy and Petaluma as the clubs will clash again in the first round of Sonoma County League play Saturday in a 1 p.m. game at Petaluma.

In other tournament results: Northgate defeated Piner, 13-7, in the contest for third place in the winners bracket. Chico took the consolation bracket title with a 6-3 win over Montgomery and Ukiah bested Windsor, 6-5, in eight innings for seventh place.