MORAGA, CA - Campolindo broke a late tie in its North Coast Section Division III semifinal game against Kennedy-Fremont on Tuesday, scoring nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for the 12-3 victory.
Kennedy had tied the game with three runs in the top of the fifth, but Campolindo got its own rally started when Trevin Kroichick and Brett Donat singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. Donat advanced to second without a throw, and after a strikeout for the first out of the inning, Ryan Regan singled to right field, scoring both runners for a 5-3 lead.
The Cougars loaded the bases on a walk and a ground ball to shortstop, and Lucas Allen followed with a hard ground ball into right field, scoring Regan for a three-run lead. Will Bishop then doubled to score both Ryan McNally and Ryan O'Neil for an 8-3 advantage.
With runners on second and third, and still just one out, Vincent Mossotti hit a ground ball to short, but Allen beat the throw home. Kroichick then stepped to the plate for the second time in the inning, and this time doubled to score Bishop for the 10-3 lead. Donat singled again to score Mossotti, and after Kroichick advanced to third on a wild pitch, Michael McAuliffe brought him in with a sacrifice fly to right, completing the scoring.
Michael Crews earned the win on the mound for Campolindo, allowing just three hits and one earned run in six innings, while Evan Yamamoto needed just nine pitches for a scoreless seventh inning. Donat had three hits and Allen drove in three runs to pace the Cougar lineup.
Dalton Bowling, who had an RBI double in the loss, pitched the first four innings for Kennedy before yielding to Chandler Giles.
Campolindo will now face San Marin in the NCS Division III title game. The Cougars are seeking their first title since a run of four straight from 2010-2013.
