CASA GRANDE BASEBALL: Joaquim, with a little help, beats Maria Carrillo

The two heavyweights of North Bay League baseball skillfully boxed, rather than slugged, one another Friday evening on Maria Carrillo’s manicured diamond in Santa Rosa, with Casa Grande’s Gauchos winning a 3-0 decision.|

The two heavyweights of North Bay League baseball skillfully boxed, rather than slugged, one another Friday evening on Maria Carrillo’s manicured diamond in Santa Rosa, with Casa Grande’s Gauchos winning a 3-0 decision.

Casa Grande sophomore Chris Joaquim out-dueled Maria Carrillo senior Clayton Andrews, keeping the Gauchos atop the NBL standings with a 7-1 league mark (13-5 overall). Maria Carrillo and Cardinal Newman are a game behind with 6-2 NBL records.

Joaquim allowed just two hits over six innings, walking only one and striking out three.

After a rocky start, Andrews was as good, holding the Gauchos to two hits in his six-plus innings. He walked three and struck out seven.

Joaquim got more help from his friends.

None provided more assistance than senior Justin Bruihl, who came striding into the game with Casa Grande leading just 1-0 in the last of the sixth innning. Maria Carrillo had two out, the potential tying run at second base and slugger Jo Bynum, the only Puma to hit a home run this season, stepping to the plate.

Although Joaquim had allowed just two hits and the runner on base was only the second he had walked the entire game, Casa coach Paul Maytorena replaced him with the left-handed Bruihl to face the left-swinging Bynum.

To make the match-up even more intriguing, Bruihl is coming back from Tommy John surgery, and had pitched only once previously this season, throwing an inning in an 18-2 blowout win over Ukiah. He had been impressive in that short stint, striking out two.

He didn’t strike out Bynum, but he did jam him, getting a routine grounder to second baseman Blake Berry who made the sure-handed scoop and throw to take the Gauchos out of the jam.

Bruihl gave up a double in the last of the seventh, but by then the Gauchos had added two insurance runs off Maria Carrillo relief pitcher Jared Brazis and the Carrillo runner expired at second as the Casa pitcher ended the game with a flourish, striking out pinch-hitter Ryan Seilner.

Bruihl wasn’t the only help Joaquim received. Casa Grande fielders played superb defense behind their pitcher, highlighted by two exceptional plays in the second inning. With one out, third baseman Spencer Torkelson made a diving stop of a sizzling shot hit by Grant Hermone and scrambled up to coolly throw out the runner. A walk later, catcher Casey Longaker dived just inches from the backstop to snare a high foul pop hit by Zack Scott.

Offensively, the Gauchos showed patience and good approaches at the plate, but were stymied by the variety-throwing Andrews, although the Puma lefty had a wobbly start.

Casa leadoff hitter Tyler Moore opened the game by working a 3-2 walk. A strikeout later, Torkelson also walked on a full-count miss. Both runners advanced on a balk and Longaker then dropped a bloop into no-fielder country between shortstop and the outfield to score Moore.

Andrews fanned the next two Gauchos and pretty much breezed though the next five innings.

After surviving the jam in the bottom of the sixth, Joaquim added his bat to weapons he used to hurt the Pumas, driving a long double to right field to score walk-based Nick Bostow and a hustling Stephen Proctor, pinch-running for single-boarded Brian Hupke.

With Bruihl in charge on the mound, the insurance policy was not needed.

More good pitching

Earlier in the week, Casa Grande scored two runs in the first inning and Jon Christy and Jack Hill made them stand up for a 2-0 North Bay League win over Rancho Cotate.

Christy started and pitched four innings, walking none and striking out none. Hill followed for three innings, walking one and striking out three. Each pitcher allowed just one hit.

Casa Grande had just seven hits against Rancho Cotate pitcher Jaymin Groverman.

Austin Garatti, Torkelson and Bostow had two hits apiece for the Gauchos, with Torkelson and Bostow scoring the Casa runs.

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