"Baseball is a strange game - you just never know what's going to happen," Beckman coach Tom Jenk Jr. said. "You would think we would be solid after winning 20 games in a row, but we unleashed a monster with 11 unearned runs, five errors and 12 guys left on base."
Eric DeSousa started solidly on the mound for the Blazers with two strikeouts. He hit the next batter and then Cascade's Evan Ressler singled. With two outs, DeSousa coolly struck out Nate McMullen, but the third strike was dropped and McMullen beat out the throw to first and loaded the bases. Cascade went on to score seven runs in the inning, a deficit that Beckman was never able to make up.
"Credit Cascade, they were very opportunistic, as they took advantage of our walks and errors with timely hitting, especially in the eight (Alex Junk) and nine (Tanner Coyle) hole," Jenk Jr. said. "This should have been a great high school baseball game, regardless of the outcome. Unfortunately, we
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Cascade grew its lead to 10-0 after three runs in the top of the third inning, but Beckman answered back in the bottom of the inning. Dustin Jacque hit a fielder's choice that scored Connor Golden, who had singled. DeSousa followed with a double. Craig Kerper, Nate Steger and Robbie Anstoetter all hit RBI singles.
The Cougars added three more runs in the top of the fifth inning and Beckman wasn't able to get the timely hits to answer back. Beckman ended its season at 32-6.
"A lot of good things happened this year besides the loss, and I don't want the kids to lose sight of what they did accomplish," Jenk Jr. said. "They won 65 games over the past two years against a grueling 3A/4A schedule.
"They won 20 in a row to end the season and set a school record for the most wins in a regular season (30), but most of all, they established memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. I feel very privileged to be a little part of their life."
DeSousa pitched 5 2/3 innings for the loss. He struck out eight, walked three and allowed eight runs (two earned) on five hits. Isaac Willenbring pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief. He struck out two, and allowed five runs (two earned) on five hits.
Anstoetter batted 3-for-4 to lead Beckman. Golden was 2-for-3, Nate Steger 2-for-4 and Willenbring 2-for-5. Jacque, DeSousa and Kerper each had one hit.