No. 2-seeded Challengers build 3-0 cushion through one inning, hold on to edge Warrenton in semifinal round

After crawling out of an early hole in each of its two state playoff games, Cascade Christian’s baseball team took a different approach Tuesday in the Class 3A baseball semifinals at Lithia & Driveway Field.

The second-seeded Challengers held an opponent scoreless in the top of the first inning for the first time, then put up three runs in the bottom half that wound up being the difference in a 3-2 win over No. 3 Warrenton.

“When we got three outs in the first inning and didn’t give up a run, I looked at our coaches and I was like, ‘Oh gosh, haven’t been here before. Now what do we do?” said Cascade Christian head coach Kevin Shafer with a laugh.

What they did was immediately stir the pot, with the first four batters each reaching base and Blake Patereau driving home C.J. Bonner with the first run on a double to right-center field.

Grady Sickler wound up scoring from third on a dropped third strikeout, and Andy Alvarez came through with a two-out, two-strike RBI single to center field to provide a 3-0 start against Warrenton starter Aaron Neahring.

“Our biggest thing is if you can get Bryson Walker and C.J. Bonner on at the top, we score runs,” said Shafer. “I think that’s where we kind of capitalized today.”

A return to the cleanup spot for Patereau also didn’t hurt, with the freshman showing increased signs that he’s healthy after missing several weeks due to a strained lumbar injury.

“A month ago before he was hurt, Blake was hitting .430 for us and hitting in the four-hole and kind of protecting Grady,” said Shafer. “We felt like with the injury, he’s back, and we felt like if there was a time to move him back into the four-hole, now was the time to kind of lengthen our lineup a little bit.”

Patereau also was in the thought process to start on the mound Tuesday, but the Challengers (24-6) opted for Sickler and the sophomore didn’t disappoint. A leader throughout the season on the mound and at the plate, Sickler allowed two hits with nine strikeouts and five walks through six innings. One of the two runs against him was unearned after a dropped third strike led to a Warrenton run in the second inning.

“At a certain point, Grady looked like three was going to be enough,” said Shafer. “He was really, really good on the mound today, and that was good to see. It wasn’t always comfortable, but we felt the way Grady was going, three runs was going to be hard for them to get off of him.”

Warrenton (23-6) closed to 3-2 with a run in the sixth — getting 5 ⅓ innings of scoreless relief with eight strikeouts and no hits allowed by Talon McGrorty — and the Challengers turned the ball over to Bonner for a scoreless seventh that included a game-ending 5-4-3 double play.

With the win, Cascade Christian advanced to its second state championship final in three seasons, and will meet top-seeded Blanchet Catholic (28-2) at 12 p.m. Saturday at Champion Car Wash Field in Roseburg. The Challengers, who boast only three seniors on the roster, are seeking their first 3A title since 2012.

“It’s awesome,” said Shafer. “Going into our season we knew we were young, but we knew we were good young. We’ve got good young players and just needed to kind of fit them in with some of those seniors. We thought that we were going to get better and better and better.”

“I don’t know if it’s overall grit or we’re too young to realize,” he added, “but it’s one of those things where, for these freshmen and sophomores, there’s more games. It’s not like with seniors where it can all be over just like that, and that kind of comfort level has been good. I think the process we’ve gone through has helped prepare them for what it’s kinda been in the playoffs. The kids have done a great job of just kind of competing and playing hard.”

Blanchet Catholic’s senior class was able to eliminate the Challengers in the first round when they were freshmen, so Saturday’s matchup provides a full-circle moment.

Warrenton 010 001 0 — 2  2  2

Cascade Christian 300 000 x — 3  2  1

Neahring, Ta. McGrorty (1) and Ty. McGrorty; Sickler, Bonner (7) and Mayben. W — Sickler. L — Neahring. 2B — CC: Patereau.

Reach sports editor Kris Henry at kris.henry@rv-times.com or 458-488-2035