The Portland Cascade came into Hillsboro Ballpark for the last time this season, with postseason implications looming. The Cascade looked to bounce back from a Game 1 loss to the Texas Volts, and they did. Portland took a 10-1 win in five innings, as Megan Grant hit 2 home runs on the night to tie Maya Brady for the AUSL single-season record of 10.
“Great way to finish here in Portland,” Cascade head coach Tairia Flowers said. “The fans were amazing, great energy with us the entire time. And then these guys showed out. I mean, it was just… It was great to watch them, and gave them something to cheer for. So, definitely proud of the way we played, and just the fans definitely came or a big part today.”
Sam Landry got the start for Portland and survived walking the bases loaded. Landry also struck out 2 in the opening frame. NiJaree Canady then took the ball for Texas, and the command was off from the start. Canady walked the bases loaded after giving up a one-out single to Sierra Sacco-Ferrie. Then, with one out, Kenleigh Cahalan cleared the bases on a three RBI triple to put the Cascade ahead 3-0.
The Cascade continued to put distance between them and the Volts in the bottom of the second inning. After Canady put Mia Davidson on with a two-out walk, Korbe Otis smashed a two-run home run to left field to make it 5-0. That was the end of the line for Canady, and Aliyah Binford came in to escape the frame.
Texas answered with back-to-back doubles from Danieca Coffey and Tiare Jennings in the top of the third, with Jennings recording an RBI. Then, with one out, Jackie Lis singled up the middle, but Kendra Falby threw Jennings out at home from center field. The Cascade got out of the inning with a Sacco-Ferrie catch in foul territory.
”We just try to do anything we can for our pitchers,” Sacco-Ferrie said. “They’re dealing, so we try to get outs.”
Grant led off the bottom of the third with her ninth home run of the season to make the score 6-1. Binford worked out of the inning with no further damage, finishing it with a strikeout of Falby. Grant talked about how the batting practice session was a hard one on Saturday, but it turned into a good game.
”I mean, that’s just so funny because our BP session was quite literally the opposite,” Grant said. “But it’s a lot of mental preparation too that goes into it. Like I said, the BP session was hard, so I just try to stay disciplined as much as I can, and just try to relax and just bet on myself when I get to the game.”
Payton Gottshall took the ball to begin the fourth inning. Landry’s day was done after 3.0 innings of 1-run ball on 5 hits. Landry totaled 3 strikeouts to 2 walks.
“I know the other day you guys asked when we’re gonna see her again, and we knew we were gonna see her this series,” Flowers said about Landry. “So it’s just she came out coming right at the hitter. She did a good job mixing speeds, and she kept us in the game, came right at ’em. And right, these guys came up with some big time plays for us. So it’s definitely a team effort. And when everything’s kind of balanced on both sides of the ball, it becomes good softball.”
Gottshall began with a strikeout of Sierra Romero before issuing a walk to Michaela Edenfield. After Rylie Boone singled and Edenfield reached third on a throwing error, Gottshall got out of the inning with no damage.
Tori Vidales led off with a single and then came around to third on an Edenfield throwing error during a pickoff attempt. A couple of batters later, the Volts went to Rachel Garcia, and Dejah Mulipola moved behind the dish.
Davidson kept the scoring going with an RBI single on an 0-2 pitch to increase the lead to 7-1. Then, with two on and two outs, Grant smashed a three-run home run to put the game in run-rule territory.
Romero took her final curtain call, exiting the game as a now-retired pro. After the game, Texas head coach Ricci Woodard spoke on Romero sharing the space with her.
“That was one of the best things about taking the job was getting to work with Sierra Romero on the field every day,” Woodard said. “She just goes about her business the right way. She handles herself well. She’s just one of those players that you want your daughter to grow up watching.”
Gottshall returned in the top of the fifth to close it out. After Mulipola reached on a one-out single, Kelsey Stewart-Hunter grounded into a game-ending double play.
The Portland Cascade improved to 14-11 on the season and now await the results of the Oklahoma City Spark vs. Carolina Blaze series to find out if they will punch their ticket to College Station.
“It’s a little stressful, right?” Flowers said. “Don’t like the waiting game, but can’t do anything about it now, so it’s just celebrate together of finishing on a high note, finishing here at home with this amazing crowd and these amazing players and this team, and see what happens tomorrow,” Flowers said.
With the Cascade win, they can clinch a spot in the play-in game with a Spark loss to the Carolina Blaze. There are two games left in that series.
