CHAPEL HILL -- For the second night in a row, the Cascade Lady Champions gave Forrest all they could handle on their home turf but just couldn't get over the hump as they fell 2-0 to place second in the District 9-A tournament.

The Lady Champions pose with their plaque for earning second place in District 9-A. (T-G Photo by Jimmy Jones) [Click to enlarge]

Both runs were unearned.

"I am proud of the team effort in this tournament," Cascade coach Jeremy Austin said. "To come out and hold this team down and give ourselves a chance to win the game after giving up nine in the last inning last night just shows the character of these young ladies."

Leigha Carter kept the Forrest hitters off balance all night, allowing just four hits and one walk and was the recipient of some stellar defensive play.

Lady Rocket pitcher Shelby Stinnett showed why she was chosen the district's most valuable player by fanning the first nine hitters she faced on her way to a 13-strikeout performance while not walking a batter.

Forrest (29-6) scored a run in the first on an RBI single by Stinnett after an error and duplicated the feat in the second inning under virtually the same circumstances, with Johnson supplying the hit this time.

No more runners scored despite a golden opportunity for the Orange and Black in the fifth.

Tiffany Gibbs hit one through the legs of the Forrest shortstop to lead it off, then Carter hit a sharp ground ball right back at Stinnett, who committed the second error of the inning to put runners at first and second with nobody out.

Stinnett was having none of it as she buckled down and struck out the side to end the threat.

The Lady Champs (17-9) made one last stab at a rally in the seventh when Torey Hornberger hit a solid shot into center field for the first base hit off Stinnett in the tournament.

Gibbs' sharp ground ball to the shortstop was turned into a force play before Stinnett ended any would-be drama with two strikeouts to secure the Lady Rockets' unprecedented 14th district championship in the past 16 years.

"I like the way that we have come together as a team and dealt with adversity playing on the road against a quality team like Forrest," Austin said. "We have pulled together at just the right time and we look forward to next week."

Gibbs, Hornberger and Carter were named to the All-Season District 9-A team.

Cascade advances to the region tournament beginning Monday night against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.

Cascade baserunner Sara Edwards is out on a close play at the plate in the fourth inning to keep the game tied at zero against Eagleville. (T-G Photo by Jimmy Jones) [Click to enlarge]

Cascade 2, Eagleville 0: Carter pitched a three-hitter with no walks and Gibbs had a clutch triple to drive in Hornberger, who reached on an error and then scored on a productive out off the bat of Carter to eliminate the Lady Eagles and advance to the championship game.

Aimee Taylor led the Cascade offense with two hits.

Josie Lee was the hard luck loser. She gave up only five hits, struck out two and did not walk a hitter in a complete game effort.

Both runs scored were unearned.