Jayden Hathcock got the win on the mound in the postseason opener. He went the distance and gave up just one run on six hits and struck out eight. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
Kaleb Maillet connects on a ground ball single in the first inning on Tuesday night at Cascade and knocks in the first run of the game. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
BELL BUCKLE — After a closely-contested first three innings, the No. 2 seeded Cascade Champions pushed four runs across the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning to help lock down the postseason opener against cross-county rival Community on Tuesday night in the 7-1 win.
Cascade’s win advances the Champions to the District 9-2A championship on Wednesday against top-seeded Forrest.
Community put the pressure on the Champions early and got singles from Josh Powers, Case Davis and Elijah Westbrooks before third baseman Kaleb Maillet stepped to the plate and hammered a ground ball single to left, plating Powers for the 1-0 Viking lead.
With Community connecting on three base hits to open the game, Cascade worked out of the jam and rallied behind starting pitcher Jayden Hathcock, flashing the leather to turn a double play to strand a pair of Viking runners on base.
In the bottom of the first, Xykaiah Dixon drew a one-out walk and Caleb Crouch knocked home the tying ru
Third baseman Kaleb Maillet and short stop Elijah Westbrooks converge on an infield hit, with Maillet coming up with the ball and firing the throw to first for the out. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
n.
That score held until the bottom of the third when Childress called his own number and mashed a solo homer to center field for the go-ahead run.
Even trailin
Right fielder River Maddox goes full extension to steal a hit away from the Vikings. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
g by one, Community continued to hang around until the Champions went to work in the bottom of the fifth.
Childress continued his hot night at the plate and doubled with one out and Crouch and Thomas Demarteleare followed with a pair of two-out walks.
With two on and two outs, Wickey Parker stepped to the plate and connected on the biggest hit of the night, crushing a grand slam to right to give the Champs a sizable 6-1 cushion.
The home team added one extra insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Childress hit a sac-fly to center field, scoring one final run for the Champs to punch their ticket to the district championship game.
Ryan Sharp got the call on the mound for the Vikings and went three innings, allowing two runs on three hits.
Logan Reed worked three innings in relief and gave up five runs on three hits.
At the plate for the Champions, Parker’s fifth-inning grand slam was the game-changer for the hosts, while Childress had a productive night at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a solo homer run and a pair of RBIs.
Community also connected on six hits, but was unable to match the run production by Cascade.
Powers led Community with a pair of base hits.
With the double elimination format, Cascade will now face Forrest on Wednesday evening in the District 9-2A championship
With the loss, Community falls to the consolation bracket and will face the loser of Wednesday’s championship game to determine the district runner-up.
Community 100 000 0 — 1 6 0
Cascade 101 041 x — 7 6 0
Community: Josh Powers 2-for-4, Case Davis 1-for-3, Elijah Westbrooks 1-for-3, Kaleb Maillet 1-for-2, Isaiah Beech 1-for-3.
Cascade: Jordan Childress 2-for-3, Caleb Crouch 1-for-2, Thomas Demartelaere 1-for-2, Wickey Parker 1-for-2, River Maddox 1-for-3.
WP: Hathcock
LP: Sharp
