STAFF REPORT
BELL BUCKLE — A hot start on Wednesday afternoon was more than the Cascade Lady Champions needed to take down non-district foe Riverdale, 7-4.
Staring pitcher Jocelyn Laughlin worked around a dodgy first frame that led to a hit batter and a walk to leave Riverdale scoreless after the top half of the opening frame.
Cascade proved opportunistic in the bottom of the inning and drew back-to-back walks from Ella Thompson and Alyvia Fannin to put two on right out of the gates.
Makenzie Fisher then bunted and reached via error, scoring Fannin and Thompson for a 2-0 Lady Champion lead.
Laughlin helped her own cause with she lifted a fly ball to center field, but another error allowed Fisher to cross the plate, giving Cascade a 3-0 lead.
Caroline Parker led off the bottom of the second with a solo shot to deep center filed and Laughlin again came through with some savvy play at the plate, reaching on an error and scoring Thompson for her second run if the night.
Fannin padded the Cascade lead when she hit into a fielder’s choice and scored Alayna Cruse.
By the end of the fourth inning, Cascade led 6-0.
Riverdale made things interesting with a big fifth frame and connected on three singles, a double and was aided by a Lady Champion error to cut the Cascade lead in half.
A final Cascade run scored in the sixth when Fannin drove in Parker after grounding out to second base.
Thompson finished the night going 3-for-3 while Momo Bilbro went 2-for-3 with a double.
Caroline Parker also finished 2-for-3 on the night.
Laughlin did give up a handful of runs, but came through in the clutch and got out of jams when needed to help lead Cascade to the win.
She went the distance and gave up four runs on eight hits, but struck out seven batters.
Riverdale 000 030 1 — 4 8 4
Cascade 320 101 x — 7 7 2
Cascade: Ella Thompson 3-for-3, Momo Bilbro 2-for-3, Caroline Parker 2-for-3.
WP: Laughlin
