Champs claim back-to-back 9-A titles

The Champions hold up their second consecutive District 9-A championship plaque. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

For the second year in a row, Cascade's baseball team defeated tournament host Middle Tennessee Christian for the District 9-A championship.

The third-ranked Champions busted out of the gates with a seven-run third inning before cruising to a 12-3 victory. They outscored their opponents 33-5 over their three-game sweep in the tournament and have now won 29 of their last 30 district games.

"The kids do a good job of focusing and playing hard when they know it matters most," Cascade coach Chris Parker said.

That lone blemish on their run through 9-A over the past two seasons came back on April 8 at the hands of the Cougars but Parker noted that his team learned from that defeat.

"Going back to our loss to Middle Tennessee Christian, they came in on us and threw breaking balls away," he said. "So, going into the last week of the season, we really focused not only on hitting the pitch away but the pitch in and on the breaking ball. We showed them all three -- in, out, breaking ball, in, out, breaking ball -- a lot in the cage, and I think it paid off this week."

The Champs (25-5) now play host to the District 10-A runner-up in an elimination Region 5-A semifinal on Monday night. The opponent will be Clarksville Academy unless they take down Nashville Christian twice for their district title. The game time is tentatively set for 6:30.

Cascade's Matt Bain just barely beats a tag at third base. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Cascade ventured up to Clarksville Academy back in late March and came away with a doubleheader sweep.

"Everybody's backs are against the wall on Monday," Parker said. "We've just got to come out with our guns blazing. We're going to face a good team, but we're fortunate enough to be able to play at home.

"We're going to come out and play our game. We can't afford a letdown, like I told the boys, that gets you crying in left field."

The Orange and Black struck first with MoMo Stewart singling to lead off the bottom half of the initial frame. He stole second, reached third on Corey Mullins' backside groundout and came home on Nick Batts' sacrifice fly.

The advantage reached 4-0 in the second thanks to an RBI double from Matt Bain and run-scoring singles via Mullins and Tyler Bowen.

The wheels fell completely off for Middle Tennessee Christian (23-10) in the third when pitchers walked two, hit two more and their defense committed a pair of errors. Justin Bryant, Josh Brown and Kyle Clanton complicated the issue with singles. When the dust settled, Cascade held an 11-2 upper hand.

Three arms had all the support they needed at that point. Stewart, returning to the mound for the first time in a month, earned the win, allowing three walks and two hits while striking out a pair over three innings. District pitcher of the year Josh Brown followed with one scoreless inning of relief. Clanton rowed the championship boat ashore by scattering four hits and relinquishing only one score over the final three frames.

"We worked hard throughout the season and had the luxury of being the No. 1 seed," Parker said. "We took advantage of that and were able to throw some of our best pitchers and hit the ball when we needed to.

"We wanted to prove that we were best team in 9-A and I feel like we did that this week."

MTC's Taylor Beckham beats a throw home as Zack Hill waits for the ball. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

Bryant totaled two singles to pace the 10-hit attack for the visitors. Clanton and Stewart scored two runs and stole a pair of bases each.

"I've been taking a lot of cuts after practice and even went before school one day," said tournament MVP Clanton, who banged out six hits over the three-game stretch. "I've just been swingin' and swingin' and I finally got my timing back down and started hitting."

As one of seven seniors, Clanton noted his squad still has several steps above them on the ladder that rests up against a state championship.

"Even though we've only made it through the district tournament, I want to go on further and help my team out as much as I can while I'm a senior."

Losing pitcher Ross Pepper had three of the eight Cougar hits. Logan Siler contributed a double and a single.