Wickey Parker went 5-12, with a HR, 2 triples, 5 RBI’s 3 runs scored during the Gulf Shores Baseball Showcase.
SHAWN DIGIANFELICE
Sports Writer
The Cascade Champions had a successful week in Gulf Shores, winning three of four games at the Gulf Coast Baseball Showcase.
Cascade-5, Ashland-0
Cascade put together a complete performance Tuesday, using dominant pitching and timely hitting to secure a 5–0 shutout victory over Ashland.
Jayden Hathcock set the tone on the mound, allowing just one hit over five scoreless innings while striking out 10 to earn the win. Wickey Parker and Dawson Youngblood followed in relief, each tossing a scoreless inning to preserve the shutout. As a staff, the Champions limited Ashland to one hit and piled up 14 strikeouts.
At the plate, Cascade collected seven hits and saw production up and down the lineup. Caleb Crouch led the offensive effort, going 2-for-3 with a game-high three RBIs.
Parker jump-started the scoring with an RBI triple in the first inning and added a walk to go along with his run driven in. Elijah Wesenberg reached base and scored twice while contributing a hit, and Daymian Maldonado, Thomas Demartelaere, and Hathcock each recorded a hit.
The Champions added another run in the fourth before tacking on two more in the sixth to put the game out of reach.
Cascade- 9, Tushka- 0
Cascade put together a complete performance Wednesday, using strong pitching, timely hitting to roll past Tushka 9-0.
The Champions struck early and never let up. Cascade broke through in the first inning, taking a 2-0 lead with an aggressive play on the bases that ended with a steal of home.
The lead grew to 3-0 in the second when Jordan Childress delivered an RBI single.
Cascade added two more runs in the third as Nicholas Mayhorn doubled down the left-field line and Daymian Maldonado followed with an RBI single to center. >From there, the Champions stayed in control.
AJ Manus led the way on the mound, tossing five scoreless innings. He allowed just three hits, struck out seven and walked three. Brody Greene finished it off with a scoreless inning in relief, giving up no hits and striking out one.
Cascade finished with 10 hits in the win. Childress, Maldonado and Xykaiah Dixon each had two hits. Childress and Maldonado drove in three runs apiece, while Dixon helped spark the offense from the top of the order.
Father Ryan- 15, Cascade- 7
A late-game rally proved too much for Cascade, as the Champions saw a five-run lead slip away in a 15-7 loss to Father Ryan on Wednesday.
Cascade appeared in control early, building a steady lead behind timely hitting and a dominant start on the mound from Jayce Cagle. The right-hander held Father Ryan to just one hit over five shutout innings while striking out four.
The Champions struck first in the opening inning when Wickey Parker delivered an RBI single. They added single runs in both the second and third innings, then stretched the advantage to 5-0 in the fifth when Parker launched a two-run home run to right field as part of a three-hit night.
But the momentum shifted quickly. Father Ryan erupted for seven runs in the top of the sixth inning, using a string of hits to take a 7-5 lead. Jackson Wilson delivered the key blow with a two-run single during the surge.
Cascade answered in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game at 7-7 on RBI singles, including one from Jayden Hathcock. The tie was short-lived. Father Ryan broke the game open in the seventh, plating eight runs on five hits. Michael Mascari highlighted the inning with a two-run double as the Irish pulled away for good.
Parker led Cascade offensively, going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Daymian Maldonado added two hits. Isaac Winton was charged with the loss in relief.
Cascade- 8, Chandler- 4
Cascade overcame a mid-game deficit Thursday to earn an 8-4 road win over Chandler on Thursday.
The Champions struck first in the opening inning when Jayden Hathcock delivered a two-run single to give Cascade an early 2-0 lead. They added another run in the second on a Jordan Childress groundout to make it 3-0.
Chandler answered in the bottom of the third and briefly moved in front. Sawyer Sims delivered the big hit of the inning with a three-run double as the Lions took a 4-3 lead.
Cascade responded in the fifth to regain control. Hathcock came through again with a two-run double that put the Champions back on top, 5-4. Cascade added insurance over the final two innings to pull away.
Hathcock paced the offense with four RBIs while going 2-for-3 at the plate. Xykaiah Dixon, Elijah Wesenberg and Caleb Crouch also had two hits each for the Champions, who finished with 10 hits.
On the mound, Dawson Youngblood picked up the win in relief after tossing two scoreless innings while allowing two hits and striking out two. Wickey Parker was strong out of the bullpen as well, throwing two scoreless innings and striking out four without allowing a hit. Brody Greene started for Cascade and worked three innings.
Cascade opens district play on Monday as they travel to Loretto on Monday before hosting the Mustangs on Tuesday.