Cashion dominates regional; ready for 2A state challenge

Intimidation won’t be a factor Thursday when Cashion plays in just its fifth-ever baseball tournament, says the team’s coach.

The Wildcats will take on Silo, one of the favorites to win Class 2A, in the opening game of the state tournament at Dolese Park.

The Rebels are 34-2, regulars in the fall and spring state tournaments and their coach, Billy Bowen, earlier this season broke the state’s all-time record for coaching wins.

None of that matters to the Wildcats.

“Our guys have a lot of confidence,” said Cashion skipper Blake Mounce, who is guiding Cashion to state for the first time in his seven years.

“As much as they won in football and basketball, it doesn’t matter to them who they’re playing. They’re not intimidated by anyone.”

This baseball season has cemented the 2020-21 school year as perhaps the best in CHS history for boys.

The Cashion football team won the 2020 state title. The basketball team reached the state tournament. The powerlifting squad was a state champ. The boys golf team played at state earlier this week.

People who contributed in all of those sports also play baseball.

“A lot of that just carries over,” said Mounce.

Cashion will enter state with a 27-6 record and is coming off a dominant showing at a regional it hosted last week.

That included a 16-3 run-rule victory over Oklahoma Union in Friday’s championship game.

The Wildcats hit three home runs, including a grand slam by Brexten Green.

Joey Wilson, who was 3 for 3, added another shot and Gavin Phippen yet another.

“We had so many guys deliver big hits all weekend,” Mounce said.

The Wildcats also got three solid pitching performances from Nathaniel Bronaugh, Hayden Branch and Phippen.

Bronaugh’s came in the 9-5 win over Luther in the opener.

He allowed one run through six innings before the Lions tacked on four late runs.

“That game had me more worried than any of the others because I knew Luther was throwing their best arm,” Mounce said.

But Bronaugh delivered and being the top-seed gave Mounce that luxury.

“The way the regionals work, if you can be that No. 1 seed, you can save some pitching for later,” he said. “So I knew if we could win our district and host regional, we’d be in good shape.”

Cashion last advanced to state in 2013 when it upset Binger-Oney in the Class A quarterfinals before being defeated by Rattan.

The Wildcats also advanced to Class A state tournaments in 2010 and 1986 and the Class B tournament in 1984.