Casa shocks Campolindo with six-run seventh inning

<p>Casa Grande High School's baseball Gauchos showed they could play with the best Tuesday afternoon, shocking highly rated Campolindo in Moraga, 9-3. Campolindo returns six starters from last season's state championship team, and some pre-season polls had the Cougars ranked in the top 10 in the country. </p><p>Casa's Gauchos pulled off the big upset the hard way, spotting Campolindo a three-run lead before they fought back, capping their big day with a six-run seventh inning.</p><p>Campolindo took advantage of Casa Grande sophomore starting pitcher Eric Parnow for three runs in the second inning. Dominic Garihan came on to stop the Cougars for two strong innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out two.</p><p> Anthony Bender halted the Cougars on just one hit over the final three innings, walking two and striking out four. He was credited with the win when Casa Grande exploded in the seventh inning. </p><p>Zack Shimek, on his way to a three-for-three evening, singled in the third inning and Francis Christy followed with a mammoth home run to get the Gauchos close at 3-2.</p><p>In the fifth, Shimek started the pot stirring again, singling with two outs. After Shimek had advanced to second, Christy was respectfully given an intentional walk to first base. Sophomore Tyler Moore made Campolindo pay with an RBI single to tie the game. </p><p>After a scoreless sixth, every thing worked for the Gauchos in the seventh inning. In the process of collecting five hits, they drove University of California-bound Campolindo pitcher Matt Ladrech from the mound. </p><p>Big belter in the uprising was Charlie Parnow, who blasted two doubles in the inning. Iggy Llorence contributed a key RBI hit and Shimek continued his huge day with an RBI double. Before the barrage stopped, Casa Grande had recorded one of its biggest wins in several seasons.</p><p>Casa Grande had 11 hits in the game, including three doubles and Christy's home run. </p><p>Casa Grande is now 4-1 on the season, with a game against Livermore coming up on Saturday in the Cardinal Newman Showcase. That game will be at 12:30 p.m.</p>