Cascade ladies in a runaway

Cascade's Torey Hornberger belted a home run to left field. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

Cascade scored early and often in both halves of their doubleheader against District 9-A visitor Middle Tennessee Christian. They totaled 29 hits and scored in all 10 innings in the two-game sweep for the Lady Champions, including a 15-1 victory in the first game.

After jumping out to a 3-0 lead, the first three Cascade hitters reached base in the bottom of the second inning with no place to put Torey Hornberger. The junior third baseman responded by emptying the sacks with a double. They weren't done there. Tiffany Gibbs belly-flopped into third with a triple to plate Hornberger. Leigha Carter followed with a double to score Gibbs to push the lead to 9-0.

The third frame was a party for singles only as Hornberger, Carter, Kathleen Lohay and Laura Jett all notched base knocks to key another three-run burst.

Starting pitcher Carter cruised into the top of the fourth with a one-hit shutout intact until Marissa Moore rid the Lady Cougars of their goose egg with a solo home run.

Not to be outdone, Hornberger blasted a two-run homer later in the inning for her third hit of the afternoon.

Carter and her defense retired the side in order in the fifth to lock up the 'W'. She struck out two and walked one.

Hornberger and Lohay reached base in all four plate appearances and scored four times apiece. Carter totaled three hits. Jett wound up with two singles.

Losing pitcher Moore paired her bomb with a double.

Cascade 17, MTC 1: The Lady Champs started off like they finished up the opener, scoring three runs for the third straight inning to quickly knock the Lady Cougars back on their heels.

Up 4-0 entering the third inning, Cascade (11-3, 8-1 9-A) put the game out of reach with seven scores on five hits, including a Mary Jett home run.

Singles by Lauren Claxton and Fatima Murillo lit a fire under the Lady Champs in the fourth. After consecutive punchouts, Hornberger fueled the flame with a double. Gibbs then capped the surge with a triple for her fourth hit of the game.

Mary Jett tripled in the fifth to leave her a double shy of the cycle. Claxton, Laura Jett and Aimee Taylor had two hits.

An unearned run in the last at-bat for MTC (2-10, 0-8) ruined another bid for a shutout from Carter. She had six Ks and one walk.

Cascade bounces out of district play on Thursday when they head to Cornersville. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30.