Cashion offense explodes; needs 3 wins to advance

Cashion scored 32 runs in its first two games at its Class A baseball regional, but still finds itself on the brink of elimination.

The ninth-ranked Wildcats were sent to the consolation bracket after Thursday night’s 18-16 loss to No. 8 Canute in a winner’s bracket game.

That came after Cash-ion knocked off Elmore City-Pernell 16-6 in a five-inning run rule to open the regional.

Cashion was set to play Elmore City-Pernell again Friday (after press time) in an elimination game. Elmore City-Pernell eliminated Allen 15-11 Thursday night.

If Cashion were to win that matchup, it would need to beat Canute twice to advance to this week’s state tournament.

The Wildcats banged out 11 hits - five of them home runs - in the opening win.

Alex Nabavi and Jacob Woody hit two homers apiece to lead the offensive explosion.

With Cashion already up 4-0, Nabavi led off the bottom of the second with a solo shot. Woody followed three batters later with a two-run blast.

In the third, Nabavi hit a two-run homer and once again Woody followed it up later in the inning, this time with a solo shot.

Brexten Green got in on the long ball fun with a solo homer in the fourth, giving Cashion a 13-4 lead.

Woody got the win with 4 1/3 innings of work. He surrendered four hits and two earned runs while striking out three.

T.J. Roberts recorded the final two outs.

Stats for the Canute game were not available at press time.

Cashion entered Friday’s games with a 24-8 record.