SHAWN DIGIANFELICE
Sports Writer
The Cascade Champions went on the road Monday to Loretto to claim their first district game of the season before falling at home to the Mustangs to even their district record to 1-1.
Cascade- 6 Loretto- 0
Behind a dominant all-around performance from Jayden Hathcock, Cascade rolled to a 6-0 shutout victory over Loretto on Monday.
Hathcock was nearly untouchable on the mound, striking out 11 while allowing just three hits across seven scoreless innings. The left-hander did not issue a walk. He also led the charge offensively, helping Cascade seize early control.
In the top of the first inning, Hathcock ripped a two-run double, and River Maddox followed with an RBI single to quickly build a 3-0 lead.
Cascade added to its advantage in the second when Wickey Parker drove in a run on a groundout, pushing the margin to 4-0.
The Champions continued to apply pressure
throughout the game, finishing with 10 hits.
Hathcock and Xykaiah Dixon each recorded two hits. Parker had a triple in four at bats. Jayden Maldonado had a double with Maddox, Elijah Wesenberg and Caleb Crouch adding singles.
Loretto struggled to find any rhythm at the plate, managing just three hits and striking out 11 times.
Dillon Thompson took the loss for the Mustangs, allowing five runs (four earned) over five innings.
Loretto- 5 Cascade- 0
Cascade hung tough early, but a three-run fourth inning proved to be the difference in a 5-0 loss to Loretto on Tuesday.
The Champions kept the Mustangs off the board through the first three innings before Loretto broke through in the fourth, capitalizing on timely hitting to plate three runs and seize control.
Loretto added single runs in the fifth and seventh to extend the lead, while Cascade’s offense struggled to find momentum against a trio of Mustang pitchers.
Jordan Childress led Cascade at the plate, going 2-for-4 and accounting for half of the team’s four hits.
Thomas Demartelaere and Daymian Maldonado added the other hits for the Champions.
A.J. Manus delivered a strong outing despite taking the loss, striking out seven over five innings while allowing four runs on seven hits. Wickey Parker provided solid relief, giving up just one run over the final two innings.
Cascade- 12. Eagleville- 3
Jordan Childress turned in a flawless day at the plate and sparked a decisive fourth-inning outburst as Cascade powered past Eagleville 12-3 on Saturday.
Childress went 3-for-3, reaching base all four times and driving in two runs while scoring three more. He tripled, doubled, and singled to headline a Cascade offense that racked up 16 hits.
The game turned in the fourth inning when Cascade exploded for seven runs to break it open. Jayden Hathcock started the rally with a solo home run, and the Champions kept the pressure on with RBI contributions from Thomas Demartelaere, Caleb Crouch, Childress, and Daymian Maldonado.
Hathcock added another RBI later in the inning as Cascade seized full control. Cascade struck first in aggressive fashion, swiping home for a run in the opening inning.
The lead grew in the third when Childress ripped a run-scoring triple and Xykaiah Dixon followed with an RBI single to make it 3-1.
Dixon and Elijah Wesenberg joined Childress with three hits apiece, while Maldonado drove in a team-high three runs. Hathcock and Demartelaere each added two hits as Cascade’s lineup produced from top to bottom.
On the mound, Crouch earned the win, allowing one run over two innings while striking out three. Dawson Youngblood followed with two scoreless innings, and Brody Greene and Wesenberg combined to finish the game as Cascade limited Eagleville to six hits.
Cascade (7-3, 1-1) will travel to Forrest on Monday before hosting the second game of the district series at home on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled both nights at 6:00 P. M.
The Champions will also host games in the Mis-South Classic to close out the week.
Cascade’s Jordan Childress went 3-3 with a triple, double and a single in the Champions 12-3 win over Eagleville on Saturday.