Petaluma holds off Sebastopol, 7-1

Mike Miller did it all for Petaluma on his birthday. He came up big on the mound, striking out 15 through nine innings, and at the plate, with an RBI triple and a run scored.

By Matt Hanlon

Wine Country Baseball.com

In what could very well be a playoff preview, the top two teams of the Sonoma South Division squared off at Golis Park. Coming off a big loss and a two week break, the Piratas had plenty to prove, while Sebastopol had hopes to of a win after a tie in their last game.

The bottom line of the game turned out to be pitching, as Mike Miller was able to silence the Sebastopol bats. The Apples did threaten in the ninth however, but after loading the bases they were held to just one run, stranding two baserunners and Petaluma prevailed with a 7-1 win over the Apples (6-4).

Getting the start on his birthday, Miller was nothing short of outstanding for the Piratas. He went the distance, allowing only one run on seven hits and a walk, striking out 14.

The win was a definite confident boost for the Piratas (8-3) who suffered a lopsided loss in their last game, against Santa Rosa at Cardinal Newman High School. It also didn’t hurt that the team had two weeks rest to prepare for Thursday night’s game.

“Last game was pretty bad,” said Petaluma coach Nate Wall. “Tonight we knew it was going to be a big game. They’re the second place team in the division… We had a great effort by Miller on his birthday, throwing (so many) strikeouts.

The eventual game-winning run came off the bat of Ryan Check early in the game, when his infield single in the second scored Tuck Nommsen. Two runs was all Miller would need to get the win over a powerful Apples’ offense.

Vince Ambroselli was an offensive catalyst yet again for Petaluma. He was 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored. Nate Durkin, who was all over the basepaths, contributed with three walks, three stolen bases, three runs scored, and a sacrifice bunt

Miller seemed to do it all on his birthday, as he helped his own cause in the fourth with an RBI triple and a run scored.

Sebastopol was kept off the base paths for only two innings but could not score until the ninth when Travis Menke scored on a groundout by Alex Bell. Both Menke and Mario Ausiello had two-hit games for the Apples, but Menke was the only Apple who did not strikeout.

The sun sets over Golis Park on Thursday night.