Casa girls top Windsor to stay in NBL title chase

Pitcher Katie Humphries and the Casa Grande girls softball team held off a late rally by Windsor to remain in the hunt for the North Bay League championship.|

Casa Grande survived a late rally by visiting Windsor, and the Lady Gauchos held on to defeat the Jaguars, 5-4, in North Bay League softball on Tuesday. The win vaults the second-place Gauchos back into contention to battle for a playoff spot when North Coast Section post-season play begins next month.

Gaucho pitcher Katie Humphries sailed along with a comfortable 5-0 lead heading into the top of the fifth inning, but Windsor suddenly found its hitting shoes with three base hits, including a bases-clearing double by Aris Azevedo. The long fly ball fell beyond the right and center fielders as three runners circled the bases. The game took a sudden turn from routine to a nail-biter down the stretch with each succeeding batter.

Humphries had been masterful in harnessing the Windsor attack until the big inning as she had the strikeout pitch going with at least one punch-out in each frame until the seventh. The sophomore right-hander kept runners off the base paths with a minimum of wasted pitches. Her team gave her a cushion with two runs in the first and third frames.

Humphries got out of trouble in the fourth inning when she retired two batters with a runner at third base. Included was a three-pitch strikeout to end the threat. The promising sophomore hurler finished with 10 strikeouts.

Casa opened the game with four hits in the first inning, including RBI singles by Humphries and Sam Dedrickson.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Gauchos scored two more runs on a single by Humphries and a fielder’s choice.

The eventual winning run was plated by Casa Grande in the bottom of fourth when Humphries chased home freshman shortstop Mo Lynch with a ground ball out in the infield. It was the third RBI of the contest for Humphries.

Lynch and catcher Skylar Thorpe had three hits each for the Gauchos, who improved to 5-2 in league play and 8-4 overall. The Gauchos are currently tied with pre-season favorite Montgomery for second place in the NBL.

Lynch continued to hit effectively for the Gauchos as she was averaging a robust .395 prior to the contest. She scored three runs hitting in the third slot for Casa.

Two Casa baserunners were gunned down at second base on steal attempts as runs became scarce in the late innings.

It continues to be a disappointing season for the Lady Jaguars, who returned five sophomores from a club that went 17-8 last season including a first-round game in the playoffs against Antioch. The Jags defeated Casa Grande in both meetings between the teams last season.

Defense was an issue for the Jags as their infielders twice threw across the infield in attempts to get a force out at third base. Both throws were late, and Casa baserunner Lynch went on to score the eventual winning run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Mele Pearl had two hits for the Lady Jaguars, who collectively mustered six against Humphries in her seven-inning win.

Casa Grande will resume its battle for second place when the Lady Gauchos host Montgomery on Thursday.

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