UNIONVILLE — A closely-contested first four innings that left the Viqueens in control of a one-run lead over cross-county rival Cascade in an elimination game in the District 7-AA tournament, it was a five-run fifth inning that broke the game open and eventually sent the Purple and Gold back to the District 7-AA championship for a rematch against the No. 2 seeded Forrest Lady Rockets.
That five-run fifth inning was enough for Community to take the 9-6 win over Cascade and end the Lady Champs’ season.
After an injury to District 7-AA pitcher of the Year, Annie Prince, on Tuesday night, the Viqueens turned to Taylar Wessner to toe the rubber to start off against Cascade on Wednesday.
Wessner got right to work and sat Cascade down in order in the first inning.
In the bottom of the frame, Abby Murrill connected on a one-out single and quickly scampered around the bases and scored on a sacrifice by senior Zoey Dixon for the early 1-0 Community lead.
Two innings later, the Lady Champs struck back and got on the board when Kyndal Bolden smacked a RBI single to the center field fence and then Ella Thompson stole home on a passed ball to give Cascade a 2-1 lead.
The Lady Champion lead was short-lived, however, as Community responded with a two-spot in the bottom of the third.
Murrill again was the table setter for the Purple and Gold with a one-out triple to the center field fence, and then scored on a bunt single by Abi Brown to tie the game at 2-2.
Community then took the lead on a Zoey Dixon RBI single.
The see-saw affair continued into the top of the fifth with back-to-back one-out doubles, capped off with a RBI from Thompson to once again tie the game at 3-3.
As closely-contested as the first 4 1/2 innings were, Community blew the game open in the bottom of the fifth, beginning with the usual cast of suspects at the top of the order.
Murrill beat out a throw to first for an infield single to lead off the five-run fifth inning for the Viqueens.
Brown followed with a base hit to center field that scored Murrill, but was thrown out advancing to third.
Community got two more runs off a Lady Champion throwing error and then a final run scored off a Chloe West single to right to make it an 8-3 game by the end of the inning.
Cascade got two back in the top of the sixth off a single by Christina Bilbrow that made it an 8-5 game.
In total, Bilbro went 3-for-4 to lead Cascade at the plate, with two RBIs to her credit.
Brown and West each knocked in a pair of runs to lead Community at the plate.
Wessner got the start and pitched three innings, giving up two runs on two hits before Anna Haskins took over and pitched two innings.
Cascade managed one run off two hits against Haskins, while the Viqueen lefty recorded two strikeouts.
Senior Haley Mitchell pitched the final two innings and gave up three runs on four hits.
For Cascade, Brianna Horn went the distance and and gave up nine runs, only three of which were earned, on seven hits, while fanning eight Viqueen batters.
The win advances Community back to the District 7-AA championship for a rematch against Forrest on Thursday night.

Cascade 002 012 1 — 6 8 3
Community 102 051 x — 9 7 1

Cascade: Christina Bilbro 3-for-4, Ella Thompson 1-for-3, Kyndal Bolden 1-for-4, Brianna Horn 1-for-2, Claire Perry 1-for-4, Addison Pope 1-for-3.
Community: Anna Haskins 1-for-4, Abby Murrill 2-for-4, Abi Brown 1-for-3, Zoey Dixon 1-for-3, Taylar Wessner 1-for-4, Chloe West 1-for-3.
WP: Haskins
LP: Horn