Cascade carries their undefeated record through postseason play into tonight's home sectional matchup with Richland. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Cascade senior Matt Bain said it best. He and the third-ranked Champions put their season on the line tonight at 7 when they host No. 4 Richland in one of eight Class A sectionals.

"If we lose, we're packing our stuff," Bain said. "Some of us are going to play college ball. Some of us ain't. We're going to try to stay hot and treat this game like it's the actual state championship game. Basically it is because if you lose, you're done. There are no guarantees for tomorrow."

It will be the first-ever sectional matchup played on campus at Cascade. The Lady Champion softball team hosted games in '90 and '91 but at First Christian Church. There was a sectional played in Wartrace but it was Community's boys basketball team in '89 competing.

Several players pumped their fists and grinned from ear to ear following Tuesday night's victory over Nashville Christian in the Region 5-A championship since they earned the right to play at home one more time in '08.

Left fielder Nick Batts and a tight group of six other seniors lead Cascade (27-5) and that core couldn't be more proud to be running onto their home field one last time with everything on the line.

"When we were playing at Nashville Christian the other night, before the game we were in the huddle and I told the guys that I wanted to go ahead and win so we can play at home in front of the crowd," Batts said. "I said I want cars to be lined up all down Fairfield Pike. I want everybody back there behind the fences enjoying the game. I want it to be a big-time atmosphere so we can come out and feed off the crowd."

Like Bain noted, not everybody gets the opportunity to continue their hardball career on the next level. For some this could be it, including Batts who is heading off to Lambuth University later this summer on a football scholarship.

"(Friday) is going to be real important to me because I'm probably not going to play baseball again," Batts said. "It was my first sport and always my favorite sport.

"Knowing it could end, gives me extra incentive to come out and play hard, make my plays and do my best. Whatever I've got to do to win."

Don't expect Richland to just roll over and play dead. They aren't 28-3 for nothing and they won their way into the Spring Fling last year as well.

Blayze Parsons is expected to take the mound for the Raiders. He was the winning pitcher the last time these two faced off when they took down homestanding Cascade 6-2 in the Walking Horse Wood Bat Classic a season ago.

The teams are long-time rivals and the Raiders put the Champs in the losers' bracket of the '05 district tournament with a 7-6 victory.

"Last year is last year, three years ago is three years ago," Cascade coach Chris Parker said. "We've got a different team. They've got a different team. Both of us are good. We've just got to go out there and try to prove who's best on that day."

The Champs are likely to counter Parsons on the hill with Josh Brown. The junior left-hander is 9-0 with a 1.05 ERA and sports a 79-19 strikeout-walk ratio in 53 1/3 innings.

The starting lineup for the Orange and Black is hitting a collective .366, led by Corey Mullins (.463, 9 HR), Kyle Clanton (.420), Justin Bryant (.415) and Batts (.376).

Their defense has turned it up a notch in the postseason. They've committed just five errors in as many games.

"This team is very special," Batts said. "I've played on a bunch of good teams. We've got all the tools it takes to keep on advancing. I've played on state championship teams before when I was 13, 14 and 15. We've got some of the same type things that those teams had."

Cascade expects a large crowd. Get their early if you plan on sitting in the limited bleacher space. Otherwise, find a spot to unfold your lawn chair or back your truck up to the fence.

The players hope everyone from alumni to youngsters learning the game to neighboring opponents come out and provide support.

As Bain said, every little bit helps.

"It would mean the world because if you have the fans going for you and all the momentum then it really gets into the opponent's head and keeps us pumped up so we play our best game.

"There's nothing greater than coming out here with people lined up with their trucks barbecuing and the fence is about to fall over cause everybody's hanging off of it. They're cheering for you and out there for you. It just feels great. I love it."

Despite taking the field in front of possibly hundreds of fans for the first time, Cascade has run through a gauntlet of tough opponents in preparation, including having played seven of the final 16 teams still standing in Class A over the last two years.

Bain made a diving, game-winning catch in the victory at Class AAA foe Blackman earlier this season and assures that ice water will be flowing through their veins.

"Experience calms your nerves because you've been in the situation before, you've been under tension before. All the seniors have great hearts and all great guys and we're going to pick each other up."