Cascade fastpitch softball team falls short at state

By any measure, it was an outstanding season for the Cascade Kodiak fastpitch softball team. Even though the team lost both games at state, Cascade was still the outright Caribou Trail League champion and District champion. Cascade finishes the season 15-7.
Cascade had a tough matchup in the first round at state against Elma, a team that ended up finishing in second place. Elma pounded out 15 hits and capitalized on four Cascade errors to win 15-3.
It started well for the Kodiaks. After Elma scored a run in the first, Cascade responded by scoring three runs in the bottom of the frame. Colby West had an RBI single and Kaija Lovelady stole home after getting caught in a rundown.
In the second, Cascade committed three errors as Elma scored six runs on three hits. In the fourth, Elma scored eight runs. The game ended on the 10-run rule in the fifth.  
“We lost to a very good team in the first round. Unfortunately, we did not play very well on defense leading to the lopsided score. A highlight of the game was the relief pitching of Truh Merriman,” said Head Coach Todd Gilbert
Sarah Paulson, the Kodiaks’ best hurler all season, pitched 3 innings, giving up 7 earned runs on 12 hits with three walks. Truh Merriman pitched 2 innings, giving up no earned runs on 3 hits with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk.
West was 2-for-2 with an RBI. Lovelady was 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
In the consolation bracket, Cascade played Bellevue Christian. It was a pitching duel up to the bottom of the fifth when BC took advantage of three walks and a passed ball to scored five runs on two hits.
Cascade was not able to rally until the seventh, scoring three runs. Unfortunately, the tying and go-head runs were on base when the game ended. The Kodiaks had four walks in the inning and a hit batter. The only hit was a single by Kayla Bittle.
“Both teams really came out pitching well and playing good defense in this one. An outstanding catch by Rylee Jacobson in left on a deep drive and a great diving stop at shortstop by Truh Merriman where she got back to her feet and threw the runner out really helped us hang in there in this one,” Gilbert said. “The girls showed a lot of grit grinding out at bats in the seventh to score three runs and get the tying and go ahead runs on base. Madeline Schiefelbein put a good swing on a ball and if it happened to be a little more left or right the game would have been tied up.”
Paulson pitched 6 innings, giving 5 earned runs on 3 hits with 5 strikeouts and 6 walks. Bittle was 1-for-3 with a run. Paulson was 1-for-4.
“This team really had a very good season and have a lot to be proud of. It was great to see them compete down to the last out. We look forward to building on this experience,” Gilbert said.
Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.