Dylan Norris delivered in a big way during Monday night’s county clash between Cascade and Community.Norris not only got the win on the mound, he was the biggest run producer for the Vikings in …
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Dylan Norris delivered in a big way during Monday night’s county clash between Cascade and Community.
Norris not only got the win on the mound, he was the biggest run producer for the Vikings in Community’s 12-7 win over the Champs.
Norris pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing just three runs on two hits while striking out 12 batters.
He also went 4-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs.
In the early goings, it looked like the game might turn into a Viking blowout, as Community plated three runs in the first two innings, including Norris’ solo homer in the top of the first inning.
But just two batters into the game, storms rolled in and forced a 43-minute rain delay.
With Community up 1-0, starting Cascade pitcher Tyler Knight resumed on the mound and recorded the next two outs of the inning to end the early threat.
In the second, Gage Underwood doubled to center to lead off and then scored when Drew Harris crushed a two-run blast to left, bumping the Viking lead to 3-0.
Cascade went on to load the bases in the bottom of the third inning after a pair of Viking errors.
With the top of the lineup due at the plate with two outs, it was Norris who delivered a key strikeout to leave the bases loaded for Cascade.
Community played add on in the top of the fourth via the long ball again off the bat of Norris.
With two on and two out, Norris smacked his second dinger of the night to center field, plating three more runs and giving the Vikings a 6-0 lead.
Cascade was able to get one run back in the bottom half of the inning when Hunter Lemmons scored on a Viking error.
The Vikings answered in the fifth as the game turned into a seesaw affair, with Blaine Paschal connecting on a RBI single.
While the Vikings had been steadily able to plate runs through the first five innings, it was Cascade’s chance with a big inning in the fifth.
After struggling to connect off Norris through the first four innings, a one-out double by Walker Craig put runners at second and third.
With Cascade threatening with runners in scoring position, Corey Paterick took over on the mound and in the first at-bat, it was a RBI single to left by Kobe Inmon that sparked the four-run rally.
Caden Hammonds then scored on a Viking error, making the score 7-3.
After Paschal answered with a strikeout, a bloop single to left by Jake Bates loaded the bases for Cascade, bringing Hunter Lemmons to the plate.
Lemmons connected on a two-bagger and drove in two more runs, pulling Cascade within two runs.
While Cascade had orchestrated its four-run fifth inning, Community responded with a four-run sixth inning.
With two outs and the bases loaded, a Cascade error at first base allowed two more Community runs to score.
Sam Holley and Paschal added to the lead with a RBI single and RBI double, respectively.
The Vikings got one final run in the seventh inning on a RBI fielder’s choice by Mason Russell before Cascade was able to scrounge up a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh.
With two outs, Chance Brown doubled to center field and Conner Melson singled to left to score Cascade’s seventh run of the night.
Even with the late-game surge, Community was able to come up with the final out and end the Cascade rally in the seventh.
Norris’ night was the highlight for the Purple and Gold, while Underwood, Harris, Holley and Paschal all connected for two-hit nights.
Community pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts against the Champions.
For Cascade, Walker Craig had the best night at the plate, going 2-for-5.
Game 2 of the series was scheduled for Tuesday night, but was rained out and rescheduled for Friday afternoon.
Results from Friday afternoon’s rematch were unavailable by press time.
Community 120 314 1 — 12 12 4
Cascade 000 140 2 — 7 8 2
Community: Dylan Norris 4-for-5, Gage Underwood 2-for-3, Drew Harris 2-for-4, Sam Holley 2-for-4, Blaine Paschal 2-for-3.
2B: Paschal, Underwood
HR: Norris (2), Harris
Cascade:Chance Brown 1-for-5, Conner Melson 1-for-5, Ryan Inmon 1-for-3, Walker Craig 2-for-5, Kobe Inmon 1-for-3, Jake Bates 1-for-4, Hunter Lemmons 1-for-4.
2B: Lemmons, Craig, Brown
WP: Norris
LP: Knight