Double loss to Fairfield ends Leghorn season

On the verge of advancing to the State Tournament, the Petaluma American Legion Leghorns slipped twice on the final day of the Area 1 Tournament played on the sun-blistered Tiger Field in Redding last week.

The Leghorns won their first four games of the Area Tournament to go into the championship round needing to win just once in two tries against Fairfield in the finals played in 106-degree heat on Sunday.

They lost twice to their rivals, 4-3 on an infield hit in the first game and 5-2 in the follow-up contest.

The Leghorns led 3-0 after seven innings in the first game behind the pitching Sean McElroy, but Fairfield rallied for four runs in the eighth with what stood as the winning run scoring on an infield hit with two outs.

Fairfield scored three runs in the first inning of the second game, and despite a late rally, the Leghorns were not able to catch up.

Petaluma scored two runs in the ninth and had the bases loaded when a ground out ended the effort.

“I was pleased with the way we battled back,” said Leghorn manager Casey Gilroy. “I’m a little frustrated. The last loss every season always hurts, but we showed a lot of grit and a lot of effort.”

Until the final day, everything seemed to be going well for the Leghorns, who scored in bunches while beating Oroville, 11-1, behind the pitching of Dominic Petersen; Yolo, 8-2, with Jayman Graveman throwing well; Fairfield, 13-4; and Eureka, 10-4, with Jack Hill and Connor Richardson combining for more good pitching.

Petaluma was hampered in the final two games against Fairfield by the loss of No. 3 hitter Kempton Brandis who had eight hits in four games before he had to leave because of a prior commitment.

“We swung the bats incredibly well throughout the tournament,” Gilroy pointed out.

The Leghorns finished the season at 22-13, with six of the losses coming in a difficult trip to Reno for Josh Anderson Tournament.

“It was a tough way to end,” said Gilroy, “but we had a lot of guys get better day in and day out.”

The Leghorn effort marked the fourth straight summer that Petaluma had reached the Area Tournament finals.