CLAYTON — Coach Matt Voorhees looked up at the sky before the game. No rain from the overcast at Cascade Field.
The rain would come as runs by the home team. Cascade plated 10 in the first inning and cruised to a 13-1, five-inning victory over North Montgomery on Wednesday. The win clinches a share of the inaugural Monon Athletic Conference baseball championship for the Cadets (14-9, 10-4 MAC), knocking the Chargers (18-7, 9-5 MAC) out of the same spot.
Cascade took advantage of four walks, two hit batsmen and a handful of hits. All nine Cadets scored in the first frame.
“I don’t know if it was jitters or what,” Voorhees said. “We gave them way too many bases. The first inning is the whole story. After that we settled down, threw strikes, we competed.”
Senior starting pitcher Keaton Brown lasted just six batters. Lincoln Heide threw to two. Both were ineffective. Senior Crew Cole finished off the opening inning and pitched three more. He retired 12 of the 19 batters he faced, including two strikeouts.
“I felt like Crew came in and threw strikes,” Voorhees said. “We knew he’d also get hit around a little bit. Tonight the balls were hit away from us.”
North was outhit 9-2. The Chargers plated their lone run in the second. Heide walked, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Carter Thompson’s single.
Cascade added three runs in the third to seal the run rule. Brayden Cravens pitched four innings for the win. Toby Savini was on base three times and scored three runs. He and Delton Howrey each had two hits.
The win was the Cadets first ever against Voorhees (3-1). They could share the MAC title with Greencastle, pending the Tiger Cubs game Thursday against North Putnam.
“Even through adversity I’m so proud of our kids,” Voorhees said. “They play the game with such good sportsmanship and the right way. You want to get in a position to play for a championship. But what type of focus and mental toughness are you going to bring.”
Before hosting Class 2A Sectional 27, North finishes up Thursday at Danville and Monday at Riverton Parke.
“We have a couple games to get back on track,” he said. “Couple guys may get a little rest and play different roles. Then we’ll focus on getting ready to play for a sectional championship.”
