It is the same thing, only different.

Less than two weeks after Analy defeated Petaluma in the Rabinovitz Tournament Championship game, the teams met again in the first of two Sonoma County League meetings.  This time it was Petaluma’s turn.  The Trojans scored five in the bottom of the sixth to take a 7-4 win.
The rivalry between Analy and Petaluma has became the area’s best. Last year, Petaluma defeated Analy in the Rabinovitz Tournament Championship game.  The league part of the season went Analy’s way with two extra inning wins.  Then the Tigers defeated Petaluma 7-5 in the SCL post season championship game, breaking a 5-5 tie with a two run fifth.
It has been “this close” so far this season.  In the Rabinovitz title game, Analy broke a 7-7 tie in the sixth to take an 8-7 win.
For most of the way, the game on Saturday was a pitching duel between Petaluma’s Will Nevin and Analy’s Zach Donovan.  A two run single by Luke Wheless gave Petaluma a 2-1 lead in the fourth.  The hit doubled the RBI total on the season for Wheless.
Analy scored two in the fifth to retake the lead and the Tigers were one out away from holding that lead going into the seventh inning.  But with a runner at first and two outs, the next five batters reached base.  The big hit was a three run triple by Ben Sanderson that broke a 3-3 tie.  It gave Sanderson a team high 11 RBI on the season.
Analy, with the help of two hit batters, got the tying run to the plate in the seventh, before Wheless got the last two outs to pick up his second straight save.  The win went to Nevin, who pitched the first six innings, to go 2-0 on the season.
It was Petaluma’s third straight win since the loss to Analy in the Rabinowitz tournament.  They are now 7-5 on the season.
Analy had a four game winning streak snapped.  They are also 7-5 on the season.
Petaluma is 2-0 in SCL play, which puts them in a first place tie with El Molino.  Overall El Molino has a six game winning streak and is 10-4 on the season.  Sonoma Valley is also undefeated in league play at 1-0.
On Tuesday, Analy travels to Sonoma Valley, Petaluma goes to Healdsburg.  El Molino has the league bye.
My email address is jacpasquini@comcast.net