SCL T0URNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP: T-Girls rally in last chance to win SCL Tournament

Kailee Silacci scampered home with the winning run as Petaluma came from behind in the final inning to defeat Analy, 8-7, to capture the Sonoma County League post-season softball tournament.

The T-Girls patched together a three-run rally in their final turn at bat to turn an exciting game around leaving the Lady Tigers disconsolately walking off the field after a bitter defeat. Analy had jumped ahead, 7-5, in the top of the fifth inning on a dramatic home run over the center field fence by third baseman Jayde Hill.

Analy appeared to be on its way to a major upset against the SCL regular-season champs as the first T-Girl batter in the bottom of the seventh inning was retired on a harmless pop up to the catcher.

A ball that might have been caught in left field turned into a two base hit, and it was followed by an RBI double into the gap by Emily Corda to give the T-Girls life.

Silacci then turned her stance around to take a turn at bat right handed, and hit a ball in the infield that could not be converted to put T-Girl runners at the corners.

Reliable leadoff hitter Brie Gerhardt followed by hitting a ground ball that scored Corda with the tying run, but the senior shortstop was out at first despite sliding in head first.

The key to the game was that Silacci advanced to third base while the dust was flying at the opposite corner of the diamond.

The first pitch from shaken Tiger hurler Saja Spearman-Weaver fluttered past the catcher and all hope for an upset victory by the Lady Tigers was lost.

Spearman-Weaver deserved a better fate as two balls struck in the final frame could have been turned to outs. but it didn’t happen.

Until the key run was carried home by Silacci, the Lady Tigers made two sparkling outfield plays to prevent Petaluma rallies. In the fifth inning, it was Katie Morita who made a two-out diving catch in right field with a Petaluma runner rounding third base.

Analy did it again in the sixth frame, but this time it was center fielder MacKenzie Evangelisti who laid out to rob Joelle Krist on her bid for a two-base hit.

Each team was credited with 10 hits, but in final analysis it was the inability of the visiting Tigers to make plays behind Spearman-Weaver that made the difference. Analy made five credited errors and a couple of other misplays when players bumped into one another.

Gerhardt and Cassie Baddeley both finished with a pair of hits for the winning T-Girls. Baddeley had two RBIs and drove in the lead run before the long blast by Hill. Left-hand hitting sophomore Alexis Silinonte smashed the loudest hit of the afternoon with a triple.

Hill had a game-leading three hits, and drove in four runs for the Tigers who finish the regular season at 15-11.

Analy could be a strong contender for SCL honors next season as Hill, Evangelisti, Spearman-Weaver and Emily Dreyer (.417) all return.

Petaluma (23-3) continued its stranglehold on the Sonoma County League with a third consecutive win over Analy this season.