Petaluma scraps another close win

Top: Mike Miller scores the game winning run for Petaluma in the top of the ninth as his teammates look on. Bottom: St. Helena starting pitcher Mike Cassady pitched 8 2/3 innings Saturday and was branded with the loss.

By Matt Hanlon

Wine Country Baseball.com

Some how, some way, the Piratas got it done again. With two outs, a runner on first, and trailing by two runs in the top of the ninth, Petaluma was in need of baserunners and runs.

But the Petaluma magic started and they got plenty of both as the Piratas scored four times in the ninth.

That lead was in jeopardy a few minutes later when the Angels loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth. But like the true escape artists that they are, the Piratas were able to dance their way out of the jam, deftly defeating St. Helena 8-6 at Cardinal Newman High School on Saturday.

“We made some errors, we missed some easy plays,” said pitcher Mike Miller. “We’ve had some close games…But as long as we win I don’t care how we win.”

Miller was the all around hero on Saturday as he pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief of Tuck Nommsen and allowed only one hit, striking out six and walking one. He came up big in the ninth striking out two batters and, amid shouts of “Miller time” from the Petaluma bench, getting a bases loaded groundout to end the game, stranding the tying run on second.

Petaluma (8-3) led for most of the game until St. Helena took the lead in the seventh. Steve O’Dell doubled to drive home Cam Cook and then John Hays singled home O’Dell and Dave Bryant.

The three-run inning gave the Angels a 6-4 lead. The Angels (5-7) held that lead and were only one out away from victory before the Piratas rallied in the ninth.

Miller did it with the bat too. he was 2-for-3 with a pair of triples and an RBI. TJ Drotliff was 3-for-5 with a double and Sammy Bruno and Vince Ambroselli each batted 2-for-5, Bruno with three RBIs and Ambroselli with one.

For St. Helena Dave Bryant was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Hays batted in the eighth spot but provided plenty of offense as he was 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Mike Cassady started, throwing 8 2/3 innings allowing four earned runs, ten hits and striking out 12 in the loss for the Angels.