Cougars send 18 batters to the plate in first inning

Turner – Cascade claimed a first round 4A state playoff win Friday with a 21-2 hammering of Sweet Home. The win sends the eighth ranked Cougars (20-8) to Eugene Tuesday, to face the top ranked Marist Spartans (25-1), champions of the SkyEm League.

Sweet Home, who won the season opener 5-2 in six innings over the Cougars, jumped on Cascade’s starter Elayna Van Hess for two runs right away, and left two more runners on.

Cascade responded by batting around twice, scoring 13 runs in their half of the first inning. Key hits included Ashley Grucza's three RBI inside the park home run, and a Chanelle Strawn double. Husky starter Bayli Riggs was forced out of the circle in the process, with Tasha Saynders taking over. In all Cascade hammered out 10 hits, and capitalized on two walks and three errors, in the offensive onslaught.

Ashley Edwards scores for Cascade while Sweet Home catcher Shelbey Gillespie awaits the throw.

Cascade Coach Tim Ganfield characterized the comeback as “A nice response.”

Van Hess set the Huskies down in order in the second inning, and then the Cougars batted around again, adding six more runs. Ashley Edwards opened the inning with a double, and Courtney Jackson finished the six run stretch with a double.

Cascade’s Elayna Van Hess set Sweet Home down in order in the second inning.

The Huskies threatened in the third, but left two runners on, without scoring. The Cougars kept up the pressure, as sophomore Jessica Slate started off the inning with a double, and Freshman Mackenzie Beeson’s double added two more runs. Riggs returned to the circle in the third inning, and was able to limit the damage, as Cascade left the bases loaded.

With field temperatures above 100 degrees, Cascade pulled Van Hess out of the oven, and turned the ball over to Slate, who closed out the win with two innings of relief that featured a pair of strikeouts, and a double play Slate initiated.

Afterwards, Ganfield said “I am very glad we swung the bats like we did today. I was happy to see that.” The Cascade offense, which pounded out 21 hits to go along with seven Sweet Home errors, allowed Ganfield to limit wear on Van Hess and catcher Rachael Barnhart on the hot day, and use all 15 players.

Cascade will need another top performance against Marist, as the Spartans have the most productive offense in 4A, averaging over ten runs per game, and also have allowed the fewest runs, a total of 34 all season.

Sweet Home 200 00 - 2 3 7

Cascade (13)62 0x - 21 21 1

Bayli Riggs (L), Tasha Saunders (1), Riggs (4) & Shelby Gillespie, Laura Gourley (3). Elayna Van Hess (W), Jessica Slate (4) & Rachael Barnhart, Mackenzie Beeson (4). HR – Ashley Grucza (C), 2B – Chanelle Strawn (C ), Ashley Edwards (C ), Courtney Jackson (C ), Slate (C), Beeson (C ).

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