Douglas walk-off moves the Trojans into SCL title game

Petaluma reached the Sonoma County League Tournament championship game with a dramatic 2-1 win over Analy, the result of a walk-off double to deep left-center field by sophomore shortstop Logan Douglas in the last of the seventh inning.

Douglas’ soaring one-out drive brought home walk-based Harrison Royall, and decided a superb pitching duel between Petaluma’s Hunter Williams and Analy’s Ryan Calderon.

Spotting his fast ball low in the zone and keeping Tigers off-balance with a diving breaking pitch, Williams allowed just two hits and, significantly, just two walks. He struck out only three, but had Analy hitters either grounding weakly to the infield or popping harmlessly to the outfield.

Calderon, who displayed a wide-breaking curve ball, gave up four hits, walked three and stuck out four, three in the opening inning when he whiffed the Trojan side.

It was a curve that Douglas belted for the game-winning hit. “He was getting it (the curve) down low, but he kept it up high to me,” the shortstop explained. “I just wanted to get a hit to get Harrison in from second base. This is awesome.”

Analy scratched out a run in the second inning on a walk to Johnny Gomes, a single by Drew Valez and a throwing error as Petaluma tried to complete a double play.

Although they had few good swings against Calderon, Petaluma did have more scoring opportunities than the Tigers, but managed to touch home only once prior to the Douglas heroics.

In the third inning, Royall smacked a solid shot to left field for Petaluma’s first hit. Brendon White put down a perfect sacrifice bunt and Royall hustled to third on a wild pitch. With Analy’s infield playing in, Douglas grounded to second baseman David Condoni who came up throwing. Royal was just too fast, and slid in ahead of the tag to tie the game.

After the run, Petaluma had the makings of a big inning as Luke Wheless singled and Austin Gabbert was walked intentionally to load the bases, but Tyler Williams grounded into a force out to end the threat.

The Trojans put their first two runners on in the fifth, but White, trying to score as Greg Thomas was thrown out at first base, was cut down out the plate.

The left-swinging Ben Sanderson dropped a two-out double down the left-field line in the sixth, but after getting to third on a wild pitch, expired there as Ty O’Donnell’s well struck fly to right was hit right at Tiger outfielder Gomes.

As the tension mounted, the game ended abruptly in the bottom of the seventh.

Royall led off the inning with a four-pitch walk. White failed to get down a sacrifice, but it mattered little as Royall simply stole second. He was perched there when Douglas’ bat intersected Calderon’s curve and earned the Trojans a trip to the tournament championship game.