The post season league tournaments are more of a show than anything else.  It doesn’t really change the history books as far as league champions are concerned.  It is mainly a pride thing for players and fans.  What a show the SCL put on in both the baseball and softball championship games , both ending in dramatic 8-7 walk off wins.
Both games had a Petaluma team in the championship game.  The games were spread out so if fans choose to do so, they could go to both games.  The fans that did might be basket cases today.  One looked like they would lose, which would have been a major upset, and came back to win.  The other looked like they had won and lost.
First up was the softball game, which appeared to be a game to be played for no other reason than it was scheduled. Petaluma hasn’t lost a SCL game since April of 2012.  Counting post season championship games that is 45 games ago. They were meeting an Analy team that they had outscored 11-1 in the two league games this season.
As the old saying goes, that’s why they play the games.
Sophomore Jade Hill hit her team high fifth homer of the season, a three run shot, in the fifth inning to give Analy a 7-5 lead.  They carried that lead into the bottom of the seventh, and were three outs away from what would be considered a shocking win.  But Analy couldn’t hold on, literally. They gave up three runs in the bottom of the seven as Petaluma stole an 8-7 win.  Petaluma got one hit in the three run rally, but Analy committed two errors and the winning run was scored on a passed ball.
Not long after that was the SCL baseball championship game.  This game had a little more meat to it because the two teams, Petaluma and Sonoma Valley, tied for the league championship.  So the winner of the game would get the automatic North Coast Section berth from the league.
With the way these teams got to this game, you were expecting a tight pitching duel.  The two teams gave up a combined 33 runs in league play.
As the old saying goes, that is why they play the games.
Petaluma was six outs away from what looked like a routine win.  A two run rally which started with two outs and no one on, gave Petaluma a 6-1 lead going to the bottom of the sixth.   Then Sonoma Valley sent 11 men to that plate and scored six times to take a 7-6 lead.  Austin Gabbert, who started the rally with a single, drove in the tying run with a single.  Like the softball game, the lead run scored on a pass ball.
Unlike the softball, this wasn’t the winning run.  Petaluma tied the game on a bases loaded walk in the seventh and extra innings they went.  Sonoma Valley loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth, when Shane O’ Malley hit a single to give them an 8-7 win.
With all the emotions of the day, it isn’t over for any of the four teams.  They will all be in the North Coast Section Playoffs.
NBL SOFTBALL
Ukiah is regular season champions; Rancho Cotate takes the post season tournament.
In a wild game in which the teams combined for 24 runs, 37 hits and 12 errors, Rancho Cotate took a 16-8 win.
Rancho Cotate led from the start, sending ten men to the plate in the top of the first.  They had eight singles, with six different players driving in a run.
Ukiah did make a run, cutting the lead to 10-7 after five.  A four run seventh put it away for Rancho Cotate.
Malia Kuka and Katie Roher each had four hits. Kuka drove in three runs and Brittney Scardina drove in four more. Scardina also pitched a complete game to get the win.
Brooke Wright had three hits for Ukiah and drove in four.
The loss snapped a 17 game Ukiah winning streak.
NCL II SOFTBALL
A five run sixth gave Calistoga a 6-2 win over St. Vincent. Katelyn Butcher had two hits and drove in the winning run. Jenna Franquelin added her seventh homer of the season.
The game was a tie-breaker for the NCL II League Championship and the automatic bid for the NCS playoffs.  Both teams are considered league champions.
FRIDAY SCHEDULE
NBL POST SEASON TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Casa Grande vs. Cardinal Newman
4 pm
AT SRJC
NCL II BASEBALL
St. Vincent vs. Sonoma Academy
7 pm
DOYLE PARK
This is the last game of the NCL II League Season. The two teams are tied for first place, so it decides the league championship.
Doyle Park is the home field for Sonoma Academy.
SATURDAY
NCL I SOFTBALL
Cloverdale at Clear Lake…4 pm
This is a tie-breaker game and the automatic bid in the NCS playoffs. Both teams are co-champions
My email address is jacpasquini@comcast.net