By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

TURNER, Ore.–  Cascade just found one last gear against their rival in Stayton Wednesday afternoon in the Oregon West Conference battle.

The de facto Championship Game as the two squads split the first two games of the series out in Stayton, giving the other their lone defeat in OWC Play.  So it made winning  this game the tiebreaker over the other.

Stayton jumped out first, leading 1-0 going into the bottom of the second inning.  Kenzi Schacher singled, driving in Madden Pfahler to give the Eagles the lead initially.  From there though, the Cougars woke up and didn’t look back.

Eight run rally they went on, taking a 8-1 lead going into the sixth inning before the Eagles were able to get back on the board.

“That’s what we did it, that’s what we needed.  After that, we just had energy to finish the game, it was something that we needed,” said Cascade senior Kaliee Bode, who drove in 2RBI’s in the win.  “It felt like we were unstoppable. It kept going and kept going, it felt amazing.  

“Stayton, they’re our biggest competition.  Getting that League Champs, it feels good, but not as much as State Champs.”

Stayton’s three-run inning in the sixth was all the Cougars would allow as they closed out the 8-4 win, taking the tiebreaker and the Oregon West Conference title.  Cascade, who’s offense produced 13 hits and drove in eight runs, closes out the league slate Thursday hosting Newport and Scio on Friday.  

The Eagles, led by Abby Archuleta’s 2-for-4 day, closes out the regular season at North Marion (Thursday), Philomath/Alsea (Friday) and hosting Scio Monday, the game Wednesday was one last good eye-opening experience with the playoffs on the horizon.

“Today, we weren’t as unified as we could’ve been.  We just need to learn that mistakes are going to happen, there’s nothing you can do.  Cascade’s a great team, they’re going to go out here and hit the ball, we just have to adjust to them,” Archuleta said.  “I think it’s going to be a really, really good ending for us to get that momentum.  We’re a good team,  but it’s just really confidence in us that we’re lacking a little bit.  But that’ll be huge for us to go out against North Marion, Philomath and Scio to get our gears shifting.”

Photos By Jeremy McDonald