Post Photo by Chris Siers Cascade starter Walker Craig was dominant on the mound against the Vikings. He pitched six innings gave up one run on two hits and struck out 12 batters.
Post Photo by Chris Siers Viking third baseman Elijah Westbrooks fires a throw to first after fielding a hard-hit ball on the hot corner during Monday’s District 9-AA matchup at Cascade.
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
BELL BUCKLE — Walker Craig was really good on Monday night against the Community Vikings.
Really good.
The senior righty went six innings of one-run baseball and struck out 12 as Cascade (9-4, 2-1) picked up a key, 9-1 District 9-AA win over Community.
Community (7-7, 0-1) managed baserunners against Craig through each of the first three innings, but couldn’t get the needed hits with runners on base to break through against the Champion ace.
Like Craig, Viking starter Kaleb Maillet was equally effective through the first few innings, striking out four batters through the first 2 2/3 innings before a wild pitch scored Conner Melson.
A second wild pitch in the third inning allowed Cascade to pad its lead to 2-0, and that’s where the score remained for the next two innings.
With both pitchers settling in, it wasn’t until a fifth-inning, two run homer off the bat of Sawyer Lovvorn that the Cascade offense sprung to life.
Jordan Childress led off the inning and reached via an error and Lovvorn mashed the two-run blast over the left field fence in the next at-bat for the 4-0 Cascade lead.
Community found an answer in the top of the sixth when Elijah Westbrooks safely reached on a dropped third strike and a walk put Luke Davis on base.
With two on and nobody out, Craig went back to work on the mound and struck out back-to-back batters before Westbrooks eventually stole home for the lone Viking run of the night.
Cascade went on to put the game out of reach with a five-run sixth frame, highlighted by RBI singles from Craig, Logan Green and a two RBI single from Childress.
Craig also scored in the inning when Logan Pulley safely reached via Viking error.
Maillett went five innings for the Purple and Gold, giving up four runs, only one of which was earned, on two hits while striking out eight, before Thomas Bowling worked the final inning in relief.
Senior Zach Crosslin pitched one inning in relief for Cascade and gave up one hit while striking out two.
At the plate, Childress and Lovvorn both knocked in a pair of runs, with Lovvorn’s homer being the biggest hit of the night for either team.
Community’s Josh Powers led the Vikings going 2-for-4 with a double, while Maki Fleming made it on base three times via walk.
Game 2 of the series was originally scheduled for Tuesday night, but has since been postponed to Wednesday evening due to inclement weather.
First pitch is set for 6:15 in Unionville.
Community 000 001 0 — 1 3 4
Cascade 002 025 x — 9 7 1
Community: Josh Powers 2-for-4, Elijah Westbrooks 1-for-4.
Cascade: Jordan Childress 1-for-3, Sawyer Lovvorn 1-for-2, Walker Craig 2-for-3, Logan Green 1-for-3, J Milliken, Conner Melson 1-for-3.
WP: Craig
LP: Maillett
