Seniors Nick Batts and Kyle Clanton provided clutch hitting with the game and their season on the line, and pitchers Josh Brown and Justin Bryant combined to outduel Clarksville Academy's Devin Hightower to advance the Cascade Champions into the championship game of the Region 5-A tournament by a 2-1 score in beautiful baseball weather on Monday night in Wartrace.

Champion teammates ready to congratulate Nick Batts after his game-tying home run. (T-G Photo by Jimmy Jones) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"It felt good to get a win in front of our home crowd," Cascade coach Chris Parker said. "We got good pitching and just enough hitting in this game.

"Their guy threw a real good game and we were fortunate to get a couple of good swings in on him that wound up making the difference."

The third-ranked Champions advance to play at Nashville Christian tonight at 7. The 5-A title match was originally scheduled for Wednesday but rain is predicted for that night and Thursday. The District 10 winners defeated visiting Middle Tennessee Christian 7-5.

Tonight's winner hosts the Summertown/Richland loser on Friday in the section matchup with a ticket to the state tournament on the line.

Cascade (26-5) and Clarksville Academy (23-10) battled to a draw for three innings before the Cougars struck first when Robert Tipton led off with a single and one batter later scored on an RBI double by Miles Barger.

Andrew Finley's bid for a run-producing hit was thwarted when Champion left fielder Batts hustled over to the line to cut off his single and make a strong throw to the plate to halt Barger at third base.

Brown then induced a fly ball by Miller Haynes that settled into the mitt of Cascade second baseman Tyler Bowen to strand the runner and end the inning. It would be the closest thing to a rally that the Cougars would muster the rest of the way.

The Champions responded just two pitches into their half of the fourth when Batts powered one over the center field fence to knot the score at 1-all.

Brown departed after four innings of work having allowed five hits and one earned run. The junior District 9-A Pitcher of the Year struck out three hitters and walked only one before turning the ball over to Bryant.

Corey Mullins reached on a fielder's choice in the fifth and Clanton then brought the capacity crowd to its feet by hitting the first pitch he saw for a triple to complete the come-from-behind win for the Orange and Black.

Justin Bryant was dominant in three innings of relief pitching. (T-G Photo by Jimmy Jones) [Click to enlarge]

"Kyle did an outstanding job for us in the district tournament, and I think he picked up where he left off tonight in the region," Parker said.

Bryant was outstanding in relief with five punchouts and only one hit in three innings to earn the win. He did not issue a walk.

"We have to be more consistent at the plate," Parker said. "We're going to have to make sure we do all the little things right, but to be more specific, getting the runners in from third base with less than two outs."

Hightower and Barger led the way offensively for the Cougars with two hits apiece. It was Hightower's first loss on the mound in 10 starts.

Cascade stranded a total of eight baserunners.