How many ways can you say it?
How many times can it be done?
Two days after a feature in the weekly recap at this website listing one run wins to start 4-0 in NBL play, Casa Grande added to the list.  The Gauchos scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Rancho Cotate 3-2.
The rally not only keeps its remarkable one run victory streak going, but keeps them in sole possession of first place in the NBL race.  At 5-0 they hold a one game lead over Cardinal Newman and Montgomery, who also won its games.    They are also the teams Casa Grande plays next, starting with a trip to Cardinal Newman on Friday.
Rancho Cotate scored two runs in the fourth and that carried them to a 2-1 lead going to the bottom of the seventh.  It didn’t take long for that lead to be gone.  Francis Christy, who singled and scored Casa Grande’s run in the first, hit his fifth homer to tie the game at 2-2.
When you have a run like this, there have to been some breaks involved and that is what fueled the winning run.   Richard Lile reached second when his fly ball that was misplayed.   That was followed by a base hit by Anthony Bender, which scored Lile with the winning run.
So since losing its opener, the winning streak is 14.  The count is eight one run wins.
Montgomery and Cardinal Newman kept pace with less dramatic wins.
Not having dramatics is strange for Montgomery.  They did have to rally from a 2-0 first inning deficit taking care of that with a three run second on their way to a 6-3 win.
Montgomery held Ukiah to three hits and struck out 13.
Cardinal Newman scored eight in the second as they beat Windsor 13-1.  Austin Calos had two hits in the inning and drove in three runs. Cardinal Newman scored five run after two were out.
Three pitchers combined to hold Windsor to an unearned run on one hit and struck out seven.
Cardinal Newman has a three game winning streak that has even its record at 7-7.
Maria Carrillo also has a three game winning streak after a 4-1 win over Santa Rosa.   Zack Scott had the big hit, with a bases loaded 3RBI double in the bottom of the 6th for the Pumas.
THURSDAY HEADLINES
No. 4 Rancho Cotate tries to stay in first place when they travel to Casa Grande.
The NBL race is only three games in and Rancho Cotate is the team to survive undefeated.  Casa Grande is one of four teams at 2-1.   The other three are Cardinal Newman, Maria Carrillo and Windsor.
Windsor is at Cardinal Newman.
Seven of the eight teams in the NBL are over .500 on the season.
The SRJC baseball team tries to keep its lead in the Big 8 race when they host Cosumnes River at 2:30.   SRJC has a one game lead over Sierra with eight games to go.
My email address is jacpasquini@comcast.net