County rivals lock up in pitchers' duel

Jacob Cowell scores the go-ahead run for the Vikings as Cascade catcher Kyle Saylor just misses the tag on a return throw from first base. (T-G Photo by Jimmy Jones) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The No. 1-seeded Champions sent Josh Brown, the reigning district MVP to the mound, while Community's Lance Paschal, a junior, took the hill in the biggest start of his young career.

Top-ranked Cascade advanced with a 3-2 win in nine innings, but the Vikings proved that they are closing what used to be a huge gap in the two programs with their gritty effort.

The Champs take on Eagleville (14-20) in the winners' bracket final at Middle Tennessee Christian today at 4.

Brown led off the third inning with a base hit for the Champs and Jared Carkuff worked his way on via a base on balls to move Brown into scoring position.

Tyler Bowen came through in the clutch with a base hit to plate the go-ahead run to make the score 1-0.

The score stood until the sixth when the Vikings struck for two runs when freshman Tyler Christian led off with a single through the left side.

Jacob Cowell laid down a bunt that resulted in a throwing error to tie the game, and scored moments later with an excellent piece of baserunning on a strikeout that forced Champion catcher Kyle Saylor to throw the batter out at first.

Viking hurler Lance Paschal allowed only one earned run in eight plus innings against top-ranked Cascade. (T-G Photo by Jimmy Jones) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Cowell broke for the plate in a fine piece of timing to beat the relay throw back to Saylor, who could not make the tag in time to give the Vikings a 2-1 lead with Cascade down to just six outs.

Cascade (29-1-1) roared back to tie the game on a lead off single by Chase Nunley, who promptly stole second base. Kyle Mullins moved him over with a productive out and Saylor walked to place runners on the corners.

Paschal retired a hitter for the second out before disaster struck in the form of a wild pitch to allow Nunley to cross the plate and tie the game.

Brown and Paschal retired the side in the seventh.

Neither team could push a run across in the eighth inning despite each team getting a runner into scoring position.

Paschal retired the first batter he faced in the ninth via a strikeout before being relieved by Cody Pierce.

Jon Hill almost ended it with one swing of the bat when he hit the base of the wall in the deepest part of the ballpark for a double.

Brown grounded out to move Hill to third for the second out of the inning.

Carkuff then got the biggest hit of his young career with a solid walk-off single into left field on the first pitch he saw to end the game.

"We played tough," Community coach Josh Burrahm said. "I am real proud of our guys for the way that they came together in this tournament.

Community baserunner Tyler Christian just gets under the tag of Champion third baseman Kyle Mullins. (T-G Photo by Jimmy Jones) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"We improved in every facet of the game week over week as the season progressed and no coach can ask for more."

Brown did not figure in the decision but gave his usual dominant performance on the bump for the Champions. He threw seven complete innings and gave up three hits and one earned run.

He struck out 11 and did not walk a batter.

Paschal was equally outstanding for the Vikings with 8 1/3 innings. He gave up just four hits, struck out seven and walked four.

Middle Tennessee Christian 10, Community 0: There was no gas left in the tank for the heavy hearted Vikings who took the field less than an hour after their emotional loss to Cascade.

The Cougars scored in four of five innings to pick up the win while limiting the Vikings (10-15) to just one base hit off the bat of Christian to advance to the third round.

"We were just simply spent after the first game," Burrahm said. "That game took a lot out of us physically as well as mentally and we weren't prepared to play this game.

"I would like to say thanks to my seniors, Chris West, Jacob Cowell, Dustin White, Bronson Friedman and Kerry Breshears for their contributions to the program over the years.

"They have been good teammates and good citizens. We wish them the best of luck as they start a new phase of their lives."