Sophomore Blake Harvey no-hit AAA opponent Hendersonville for four innings. (T-G Photo by Jimmy Jones) [Click to enlarge]

MURFREESBORO -- The game got away from them in the long run, but Cascade battled Hendersonville as well as the elements in their third game of the Warrior Classic.

Neither were very kind to the Champions in an 11-2 loss despite sophomore Blake Harvey's strong outing on the hill.

Harvey set the Commandos (6-5) down in order the first two innings before running into trouble in the bottom of the third when he walked the first hitters he faced. A fly ball and a strikeout later, the right-hander was one pitch away from getting out of the jam when a passed ball allowed the first run to cross the plate sans a hit.

The Champions came right back to tie the score in the same fashion as Josh Brown and Zack Hill led off by working their way on via walks, moved up on a passed ball, and then Brown tied the score with a headfirst slide on a wild pitch.

"We battled and played the game hard against a real good ball club," Cascade coach Chris Parker said. "Blake gave us a good effort on the mound and kept us in the game. We did our part until the last two innings."

The Commandos, who were held hitless through four innings by Harvey, resorted to a drag bunt by Shane Harris to remove the zero from the hit column in the fifth, and then executed a perfect hit-and-run play as Troy McDaniel hit a ball through the hole vacated by shortstop MoMo Stewart as he went to cover second base on an anticipated throw from the catcher.

The inning ended 2-1 in favor of Hendersonville due to an error as the skies opened up in a downpour sending fans scurrying for cover.

Corey Mullins led off the fifth with a base hit and Nick Batts earned his way on via a walk to set up what looked to be a promising inning before disaster struck.

Champion second baseman Tyler Bowen was asked to sacrifice the runners over and had the misfortune to have the ball come off the bat on a line to Commando pitcher Brandon Hall with the runners in motion.

Hall made a diving catch and got up and threw to first to double off Batts for the second out. Mullins, who was on third, headed back to an uncovered second base in a race with the shortstop who was the recipient of a bad throw from the catcher and the ball found its way into a vacated left field. Mullins reversed his field and raced all the way home to set off a wild celebration on his sideline.

Hendersonville then appealed the play at second under the premise that Mullins had not re-touched the bag on his reverse journey. The umpire ruled the baserunner out to complete one of the most improbable triple plays ever witnessed.

The suddenly-energized Commandos went on to score seven runs in the fifth inning despite a 50-minute rain delay.

"This was a game that we let get away but we will learn from the experience and move on," Parker said. "Weather played a part, but we have to field the ball better. That is the bottom line."

Cascade 7, Northwest 6: Kyle Clanton picked up the win, his second in the tournament, as the Champions (10-2) scored two runs in the seventh to come from behind and defeat AAA opponent Northwest.

Clanton was also the offensive leader as he raked Viking (2-12) pitchers for three hits in four at-bats. Stewart added two hits in two official plate appearances and scored two runs.

Stewart, Brown and Chase Nunley preceded Clanton on the hill for the Orange and Black.

The Champions finished the prestigious Warrior Classic with three wins in four games, with two wins and a loss coming against AAA teams.

"We wanted to show that we belong in this tournament," Parker said. "Our kids came out and competed and showed that they can play this game at a high level.

"We saw the other teams' number one or two pitchers in every game. I am real proud of the way our kids responded to that challenge."

Cascade takes on the Community Vikings in Wartrace today at 5.