SANTA ROSA, CA - Casa Grande slugged six home runs and pounded out 22 hits in a 22-4 rout over host Montgomery on Friday afternoon.
The game was over almost before it started, as the Gauchos (12-4, 7-1 NBL) scored 14 runs in the top of the first inning, with three home runs during the frame. Max Cerini doubled to lead off the game, and John Green followed with a drive to left for a two-run homer. Spencer Torkelson followed with a home run to center during the next at-bat, and it was 3-0 before the fans had gotten settled in their seats.
Quinton Gago and Hance Smith followed with a single and double to put runners on second and third. After a pop-up for the first out of the inning, Chris Joaquim cleared the bases with a home run to left field, giving Casa Grande an early six-run advantage, and they were far from done.
The next five batters all hit safely, ending with a two-run double off Torkelson's bat. Gago was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and after a strikeout got the Vikings one out away from ending the inning, AJ Miller singled to right to score two more runs. A walk to Joaquim loaded the bases once again, and this time Hayden Klemenok did the honors, clearing the runners with a three-run double to right field, accounting for the final runs of the inning.
Montgomery (7-10, 4-4) scored three times in the bottom of the second inning, but the Gauchos responded with more power, as Joaquim hit a two-run homer to left and Green hit a grand slam to reach the 20-run mark. Smith finished the power hitting display with his two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning.
Green finished with six RBI, while Joaquim had five. Nik Kamages threw the first two innings for the Gauchos, followed by Brock Burleson, who allowed just one hit in three scoreless innings of work. Parker Ruoff then struck out four batters over the final two innings of the game.
Casa Grande faces Santa Rosa on Wednesday, while Montgomery travels to Maria Carrillo on Wednesday.
