Cascade baseball season ends with 5-1 loss to Okanogan

The Cascade Kodiak baseball team finished up their season on May 10 in the first round of the Caribou Trail League District Playoffs. The Bulldogs beat Cascade 5-1. It was the fourth victory over Cascade this season, but closer than most.
Cascade lost 5-1.
“It was the first game in awhile that we didn’t yield to the big inning. We had a couple crooked numbers in the first and the third, but other than that, it was good ball game. Okanogan is one of the top teams in the league,” said Cascade Head Coach Mike Kelly. “They are the only team to beat Cashmere twice. Our league is very good. They just cruised through the NEA League and we have three teams going to state.”
Sophomore TJ Thompson pitched the whole way, as he has proven to be the best pitcher for the Kodiaks this year. “TJ Thompson has worked himself into being that number one guy for us. He competes and throws strikes. He had around a 3.0 ERA this season. He went the distance in the game. He gave up 10 hits, but we’re talking about a very experienced, good swinging Okanogan lineup that has hit everybody,” Kelly said. “I was very proud of him. He kept us in the game and gave us a chance to compete. He got better as the game went on. TJ doesn’t even know what he’s capable of. He’s going to be fun to watch.”
Cascade finished the season 3-9 in league and 7-14 overall. Kelly feels like he has the players to turn things around.
“I really do. Last year was a trying season. This year, was trying only because of our win-loss record. I know how important that is to people. You have to have the patience to see what is going on,” Kelly said. “We have a sophomore catcher, freshman third baseman, sophomore shortstop, freshman second baseman and a sophomore pitcher. That’s an extremely young infield. If they have the opportunity to enjoy the process, things are going to be fine.”
Kelly feels his sophomore group of Ben Sunitsch, Mason Kelly and TJ Thompson can help lead the turnaround like another talented trio did in the past.
“We’ve been through this before. Ben Sunitsch is doing a fantastic job behind the plate. Mason Kelly is playing a really good shortstop. TJ Thompson is playing in centerfield and is our number one pitcher,” Kelly said. “It reminds me a lot of Mike Allen, Jesse Ward and Tristan Parton..right up the middle. Those three guys stuck together, just like these three guys. Those three are what drove us and turned us in the first go round. I would say we have the same opportunity.”
Kelly knows things in the CTL are much different and much more competitive now.
“Back in those days, Cashmere was the class of the league. Besides that, the league was down. We were able to take advantage of that, going to state and all that,” Kelly said. “We play in one of the toughest 1A leagues in the state. We have three teams in the state tournament. That says a lot. We didn’t win any league games outside the forfeited games to Omak, but we were competitive in every league game with the exception of one inning. Our time will come. Just give these kids some time.”
The upcoming summer schedule will be important for his team to set the foundation for next year.
“There is no denying there was a better team on the field than last year. Those kids had a year underneath them. These kids will be better, but our league is going to be better. It will be extremely competitive. We have 16 games this summer,” he said.
Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.