Photo Courtesy of Will Carter Prior to first pitch on Tuesday, Cascade honored former baseball standout, and recently hired head football coach, by retiring his No. 10 baseball jersey. Carkuff graduated in 2012 and was part of the Champion baseball team that finished one game away from the state championship.
STAFF REPORT
BELL BUCKLE — After blasting Grundy County for a 15-4 Game 1 win on Monday, the Cascade Champions returned to their home field on Tuesday for a special night honoring former baseball standout, and recently hired head football coach Jared Carkuff, by retiring his No. 10 baseball jersey.
While the No. 10 jersey will never be worn again, it was No. 9 on the Champion roster who made sure Cascade would get a huge win on Tuesday night.
Senior Walker Craig went 2-for-3 and launched a three-run homer in the first inning and Cascade finished the sweep of the Yellow Jackets, 7-3.
Grundy County struck the first blow with a run in the top of the first inning, but Craig’s three-run homer in the bottom of the inning was all Cascade needed to take the lead for good.
James Magee added a RBI on a line drive single to left as well and by the end of the first, the Champs held a 4-1 lead.
After starting pitcher sat the Yellow Jackets down in order in the top of the second, Grundy County drove in two more runs in the top of the third to pull within one run.
While Cascade clung to a one-run lead, the Champs played add on with a RBI single from Craig and a second run in the fifth on a sac-fly by Jayden Hathcock.
Sawyer Lovvorn drove in a seventh and final run for Cascade when he ground out in the bottom of the sixth.
Hathcock pitched well for the Champs as he got the start and went six innings and gave up three runs, only one of which was earned, on three hits to go along with eight strikeouts.
Zach Crosslin worked the final inning in relief and despite giving up a hit, posted a scoreless frame for the Champs.
Grundy Co. 102 000 0 — 3 4 1
Cascade 400 021 x — 7 5 2
Cascade: Jordan Childress 2-for-3, Walker Craig 2-for-3, James Magee 1-for-4.
WP: Hathcock
LP: Woodlee
