Cascade baseball team opens the season with impressive wins over Ephrata, LaSalle

The Cascade Kodiak baseball team has started off the season in fine style with wins over Ephrata and LaSalle. Head Coach Mike Kelly had a plan to pitch four guys in the opener March 13 at home against Ephrata.
His number one, junior southpaw Conrad Haase, did not disappoint with two solid innings. Cascade took 2-0 in the first inning. JJ Hall pitched in relief two innings, pitching out of trouble in the third, then went 1-2-3 in the fourth.
In the bottom of the fourth, Cascade scored three more times to take a 5-0 lead. Nate McMahon had a 2 RBI double. Tyler Miller took the mound in the fifth, giving up two runs as the Tigers cut the lead to 5-2. Miller working out of trouble in the sixth.
Sophomore TJ Thompson took the mound in the seventh, showing good velocity but struggling with command. He loaded the bases, two runs scored to cut the lead to 5-4. Then he recorded the third out on a strikeout to preserve the win.
“With that being the first game, you have an expectation and hope to execute but it doesn’t always go that way. With set out with the plan this season with six guys who can throw strikes. We want to get them the opportunity to throw in games. Hopefully, from that develop some starters and the relief guys,” Kelly said.
Kelly liked the way his pitchers performed.
“With Conrad starting us off. He did really well, going scoreless and keeping his pitch count down. The same for JJ Hall, who did really well. Those two worked in combination throwing up zeros was a good way for us start to get our feet defensively,” Kelly said. “We went to Tyler Miller. One of the challenges when you are rotating pitchers is moving guys around defensively. Sometimes that is difficult.”
Kelly also liked the way Thompson was able to work out of trouble to preserve the win.
“He’s thrown well in practice. It worked out really well. All kids have challenges with pressure, and he’s no different,” Kelly said. “It was a base loaded situation and he got it done. I was happy with that. That third strike punch out was awesome.”
Shortstop Mason Kelly was 2-for-4 with a run and RBI. Miller was 2-for-2 with a run and RBI. McMahon was 1-for-3 with 2 RBI. Dillon Samuel was 1-for-2 with a run and RBI.
Cascade faced LaSalle on the road last Saturday. Kelly again planned to pitch four guys. The starting catcher, Ben Sunitsch, led off the game on the mound.
“Being one of the six guys in the rotation is our catcher Ben Sunitsch. He’s got a good strong arm and is consistent in the strike zone. I made the decision to start and go with four guys again,” Kelly said. “We started with Ben in the first inning with our number two catcher, who is doing a good job. We struggled a bit catching the ball. We were down 6-1 in the second inning.”
Kelly sought to settle his guys down, letting them know there a lot more innings to play. The Cascade bats came alive in the forth with four runs, then eight runs in the sixth.
Cascade won 13-9.  
“We came from a deficit to beat a team pretty handily. It’s a good character builder. If we want to be a good team, good teams don’t always play with a lead,” Kelly said.
Kelly pitched Sunitsch, Cody Enloe, Mason Kelly and Conrad Haase.
Sunitsch was 1-for-2 with a run and 2 RBIs. McMahon was 2-for-3 with 2 runs and 2 RBI. Enloe was 1-for-1 with 2 RBIs, 2 runs and 3 walks.
Cascade hosted Royal on March 20. Results were not available before press time. They open the league schedule with a double header at Omak on Saturday. The Kodiaks host Cle Elum next Tuesday.
Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.