By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
CHAPEL HILL — A Game 1 win on Thursday inched Cascade closer to the region tournament, but a loss in the nightcap to Forrest marked the end of the 2024 season for the Lady Champs.
Cascade capitalized off a big sixth inning to down Cannon County, 11-7, in Game 1, but fell to the top-seeded Lady Rockets, 10-0 in Game 2.
CASCADE 11, CANNON CO. 7
Cascade staved off elimination and avenged two regular season losses to Cannon County by ending the Lionettes’ season with the 11-7 win on Thursday afternoon.
Cascade senior Brianna Horn spun a one-hitter and the Lady Champs were able to connect on enough timely hitting to take the four-run win.
The Lady Champs took the early lead and plated three runs in the top of second inning, only for Cannon County to rally for four runs in the bottom of the inning.
The back-and-forth affair continued through the fifth inning and entering the sixth, the game was deadlocked at six apiece.
A five-run sixth, highlighted by a two-RBI triple off the bat of Momo Bilbro was more than enough for Cascade to hang on for the win.
It was senior Claire Perry who went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and Bilbro with a 1-for-5 effort with two more RBIs that led the way for Cascade at the plate.
Horn collected the win in her final start in the circle for the Lady Champs, giving up seven runs on just one hit with six strikeouts.
Cascade 032 015 0 — 11 7 1
Cannon Co. 040 021 0 — 7 1 7
Cascade: Ella Thompson 1-for-3, Momo Bilbro 1-for-5, Brianna Horn 1-for-3, Kyndal Bolden 1-for-3, Claire Perry 2-for-4, Caroline Parker 1-for-3.
WP: Horn
LP: Smith
FORREST 10, CASCADE 0
After upsetting Cannon County in the first elimination game on Thursday, Cascade’s season came to a close against top seed Forrest in a 10-0 loss.
The Lady Rockets plated four runs in the bottom of the first and never let off the throttle as Forrest belted out 12 hits in the win over Cascade.
The Lady Champs were also hampered by three errors in the defeat.
Forrest’s Sarah King was the offensive force for the Lady Rockets, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs.
After taking the 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first, the Lady Rockets tacked on three more in the third, two in the fourth and reached the 10-run rule limit in the bottom of the sixth.
Forrest’s win over Cascade ensures a rematch against Community, who defeated Forrest in the first game on Thursday evening.
Cascade 000 000 — 0 5 3
Forrest 403 201 — 10 12 0
Cascade: Momo Bilbro 2-for-3, Brianna Horn 1-for-3, Kyndal Bolden 1-for-2, Alayna Cruse 1-for-2.
WP: Moreland
LP: Lambert