Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DYERSVILLE – Tuesday’s district semifinal summed up the entire season in eight innings for Regina.

The Regals were close on Tuesday against Cascade but couldn’t find a way to come out on top.

Cascade (13-12) tied the game with a run in the top of seventh then scored three runs in the eighth on its way to a 6-4 win over Regina in a Class 2A, District 7 semifinal at Jenk Field at Dyersville Commercial Club Park.

It was the 12^th loss of the season by two or less runs for Regina which closed the season 14-19.

“We were close all season,” Regina coach Steve Pacha said. “All year we were one swing, one hit, one call, one bounce away.”

In his first at bat of the season Cascade freshman Tanner Topping ripped an RBI single to right center on a 3-2 pitch to snap a 3-3 tie in the top of the eighth.

Senior Will Hosch followed with a two-run single that gave Cascade a 6-3 lead an the Cougars held on to advance to the District 7 final where it will face fifth-ranked Dyersville Beckman (18-10) on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Dyersville Beckman defeated Monticello 8-2 in the district semifinals on Tuesday.

“We got hit in the mouth first and we came back and did what we had to do,” Pacha said. “Unfortunately, there were a couple of bounces that didn’t go our way, a couple of calls that didn’t go our way and that’s kind of when we sputtered.”

Regina rallied twice on Tuesday in an attempt to extend its season.

Cascade jumped to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the second inning and Regina responded with a run in the bottom of the inning on a Colin Baker RBI single.

Regina took its first lead of the game at 3-2 with a pair of runs in the sixth.

Alex Paul led off the Regal sixth with a double down the left field line and after a Jack Clark walk and Connor Nicpon sacrifice bunt senior Drew Streb ripped a two-run single to left field.

“You have to have seniors lead the way,” Pacha said. “Honestly, I think that’s who I am the most proud of is those seniors.”

Cascade tied the game with a run in the seventh when Cooper Hummel drew a leadoff walk and pinch runner Topping scored on a balk.

Regina had runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the inning but Cascade freshman reliever Jackson Green got Jack Clark to strike out and Nicpon to fly to right to escape the inning.

Topping, who entered as a runner for Hummell in the seventh, stayed in the game and came up with the go-ahead hit an inning later.

Regina rallied again in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with one out on singles by Drew Streb and Trey Streb and a walk to Hudson Koch.

However, Cascade sophomore Mick Hoffman got back-to-back ground balls to end the game.

“That’s what I am proud of, that’s the team baseball that we’ve been working on, we are never out of a game,” Pacha said. “We had to start passing the baton and see what we could do.”

Cascade          020  000  13  –  6  8  1

Regina            010  002  01  –  4  5  2                       

W – Jackson Green                             L – Will Litton            SV – Mick Hoffman

2B – ICR: Alex Paul

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