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AHOSKIE – After stranding five runners over the first three innings, Cashie finally found their way to homeplate, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Camden, 9-2, here Saturday in the championship game of the 12u District 7 Softball Tournament held at the Ahoskie Creek ballpark.

With the win, Cashie – who went undefeated during their four District games – advances to the state tournament in Shelby, scheduled for July 20-23 in Shelby.

However, that fourth win in the District tournament didn’t come without some anxious moments.

Despite a strong pitching effort from Lilly Brower, who allowed only two infield hits while fanning 12, Cashie trailed 2-0 as Camden manufactured one run in each the second and third innings.

Cashie rallied for six runs on just one hit in the bottom of the fourth. Walks to Skylee Plogger and Mallory Evans followed by two stolen bases and an error allowed Cashie to tie the score at 2-2. Lizzie Conner reached first when she was hit by a pitch, stole second, moved to third on an error and scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.

Alyssa Powell kept the fourth frame going for Cashie as she reached on a walk and eventually scored on Brower’s RBI single. The final two runs came after Campbell Beasley each reached on an error and Sydney Phelps drew a walk, followed by a Camden miscue and three wild pitches.

Cashie added three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. There, Evans led off by reaching first base after getting hit by a pitch. She stole second, moved to third on a passed ball and score on an error. One out later, Powell raced to second on an error and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Brower scored the game’s final run as she ripped a double down the leftfield line and raced home on an error.

Phelps closed out the game on the mound for Cashie, striking out three straight batters.