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Cascade rolls past Nestucca By GREG STILES WHITE CITY - The Cascade Christian Challengers have appeared in seven straight Class 2A/1A state baseball playoffs. They advanced to the state semifinals in 2000. But until Friday afternoon, the Challengers had never won a playoff game at the Veterans Affairs Domiciliary Memorial Stadium - their home field. This time around, No. 4-ranked Cascade Christian left no doubt as the District 6 champion walloped West Valley League runner-up Nestucca, 11-1, in a game ended in the fifth inning because of the 10-run mercy rule. "This is probably the most important win we've ever had because we've never won a playoff game at the Dom," senior catcher Nolan Roberts said. "The curse is over and we did it in 10-run fashion." The victory propels the Challengers (22-3) into Monday's quarterfinals at No. 6 Salem Academy (20-3). Nestucca finished 20-5. Cascade pounded out 10 hits and took advantage of six walks, four errors, a pair of passed balls and a balk. "We kind of psyched ourselves out before the game in the past," said Roberts, who was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and was hit by a pitch. "We treated this one as if it was just another game." And the results were more in keeping with a team that has dominated most of its opponents. Pitcher Bryan Edwards improved to 13-0 on the season and 41-3 for his career. The senior right-hander threw just 60 pitches, striking out four and walking two. "The good thing about this game only going five innings is that we have Bryan for seven innings on Monday, if he's feeling well enough to go," Cascade coach John Bruce said. "If not, we've got other guys." The Challengers gave Edwards all the support he needed in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs and pushed the lead to 5-0 after two turns at-bat. "The first inning was the most important," Roberts said. "Sometimes, we start slow and keep going slow. Once one person starts us, the adrenalin starts and we keep going." In the first, a one-out error gave Blake McCormick life at first base and ignited the three-run burst by the Challengers. Roberts followed with a single up the middle and Edwards loaded the bases with a single to right field. Stan Kelly's sacrifice fly to center field sent McCormick home, and Justin McCord doubled home Roberts. On the play, Edwards ran through Bruce's stop sign and was 20 feet away from the plate when the throw arrived. But losing pitcher Erik Tinnell couldn't find the handle and the Challengers were up 3-0. A two-out rally netted two more runs in the second and sparked the first of three pitching changes. Chad Harvey, who scored three runs, looped a drive down the right-field line that bounced out of play for a double. Then McCormick, who scored four times, reached on an error by second baseman Brian Dekker that allowed Harvey to score. Roberts followed with another single to score McCormick. The Challengers left two runners on in the third, but batted around in the fourth, scoring four runs, after Nestucca scored its only run. They added two runs in the fifth to close it out. "Our games have been real close this year," said Nestucca senior Nolan Kellow, pointing out the Bobcats lost to No. 1-ranked Santiam Christian by scores of 2-0 and 4-1. "I thought we could've done better here, but they hit the ball and we didn't." Defense was a key factor for keeping the Bobcats at bay. "We were making solid plays and they were hitting a lot of balls on the ground," said Cascade shortstop McCord. The Challengers fell victim to a defensive faux pas in an 8-4 loss to Salem Academy on March 16. Two errors on one play proved costly. "We've definitely got to keep our intensity up," McCord said. "Once you're at this level, everybody is going to be good." Nestucca....................................................000 10 - 1 3 4 Cascade Christian...............................320 42 - 11 10 0 Tinnell, Harrison (2), Kellow (4), Sorensen (5) and Lushina; Edwards and Robers. W - Edwards (13-0). L - Tinnell (5-3). 2B - CC: McCord, Harvey, Edwards. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4483, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.