Bears Tied For First After 6-4 Win Over Cleveland

Soddy Daisy, Bradley Lead 5-AAA Baseball After Trojans Lose To Ooltewah

  • Tuesday, April 17, 2018
  • James Beach

CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Riley Black saw where his second pitch in relief was hit and didn’t even bother to turn and look. He simply pumped his fist.

 

With the tying runners on base, Black induced a grounder to the first batter he faced in relief and Bradley shortstop Pete Williams took care of the rest.

The slick-fielding shortstop started a 6-4-3 game-inning double play with second baseman Briar Lee and the Bears dropped crosstown rival Cleveland 6-4 to move into a tie atop the District 5-AAA standings.

 

“As soon as it was hit, I knew it was over. Pete is automatic on those. I pumped the fist and said “let’s take it to the house’,” said Black.

 

It was but one of several deflating plays that took the steam out of a gallant Blue Raider effort on the night.

 

“It was like a pendulum out there, and every time it swung our way, they figured out a way to swing it back their way, and that’s a credit to them. They made some plays. We didn’t,” said Cleveland coach Preston Scoggins.

 

Cleveland ambushed Bradley starter Blaze Benton from the start, banging out four hits in the first inning to score a pair of runs, but a third run was thrown out at the plate by right fielder Tucker Cox and Black snagged a line drive to end the inning.

 

Still, it gave Cleveland a 2-1 lead, the inning countering a wind-blown homer by Bear leadoff man Dylan Standifer on the game’s fifth pitch from Patrick Williams. With the flag stretching out strong towards left field from the wind, Standifer lofted a high fly to left that kept inching the outfielder back and back until it disappeared over the wall.

 

“Balls were flying that way in the JV game, so I knew it had a chance because it was so high. It was a good start,” said Bradley coach Travis Adams.

 

Williams settled down after that despite more problems from the elements. It was like an Earth, Wind and Fire event.

 

From Standifer’s wind-aided bomb to a sharp RBI single off Black’s bat in the third that hit the lip of the grass and ricocheted toward center eliminating any chance of a play at the plate, it just wasn’t in the cards for Cleveland it seemed.

 

Thankfully, Williams provided the fire part, striking out nine batters in five innings and teaming up with reliever Cole Johnson who punched out five more hitters for 14 Bear whiffs on the night. And still, it was not enough as Bradley’s defense was spectacular.

 

In the third inning, Cleveland loaded the bases but Andy Bunch threw out a runner at home and Benton induced an inning-ending foul out to first.

 

In the fourth, Bradley right fielder Tucker Cox got his second assist of the night, throwing out Kellye Cawood trying to stretch a single into a double. The hit did score the go-ahead run after Bryce Witt had singled and stole second base when he beat the relay from first to second after a pickoff attempt.

 

In the fifth, the Blue Raiders were in business again, but catcher Prestin Taylor took care of business, throwing out an advancing runner at third on an attempted sac bunt in front of the plate.

 

Taylor then back picked a runner who strayed a little too far from second base. He almost had a trifecta when a wild pitch sent a runner to third, but the hurried throw got into right field allowing Cleveland to move ahead 4-2 after five innings.

 

“Taylor is usually good for two or three outs a game with his arm,” said Adams of his backstop.

 

The Bears finally got to Williams in the sixth, but it was more with patience than power. Williams came into the inning at 86 pitches thanks to some quality at bats in four of the previous five innings. Williams walked two batters and hit another to load them and end his night after 97 pitches.

 

“We talk a lot about quality at bats and turning the lineup over. We struggled some with contact tonight, but we put in the work to get the pitch count up,” Adams admitted.

 

“Patrick pitched well enough to win. He gave us a great start, but it came down to plays and they made them and we didn’t,” said Scoggins.

 

Johnson relieved with the bases juiced and no outs and this time Taylor did the damage with his bat, taking an outside pitch to the opposite field for a two-run double to tie it. Johnson then struck out the side to end the threat.

 

Cleveland wasn’t going away easy, though, but the double-play combo of Williams-Lee was lethal.

 

In the sixth with a runner on and one out, Lee fielded a grounder and Williams made a spectacular pivot to complete the twin killing. It was even more devastating for Cleveland because Cawood would have been the next hitter and he had already collected three Blue Raider hits.

 

“Oh, trust me we knew where they were in their lineup and that’s what made it such a big play. Much rather pitch to him with no one on than a runner on base where a gapper could do some damage,” said Adams.

 

The Bears got the game winners in the seventh with two out.

 

Black flied deep to left and the ball was dropped for a two-base error. Eli Wilson then ripped a liner down the left field line for a run-scoring double and a 5-4 lead. Cox then followed with a slow roller to second base which he legged out, and with two outs, Wilson was running on contact and hustled all the way around from second for an insurance run.

 

The Blue Raiders became the first district foe to chase Benton from the mound in the seventh.

 

Benton had four complete game efforts in his previous district starts, but after 102 pitches and two walks in the seventh, his night was done. Enter Black and his ground ball pitch and exit Cleveland’s final hope on the game-ending double play.

 

“We put in a lot of work on turning two and it shows. Coach Adams told us before the season started that defense wasn’t going to be an issue for us, and he’s been right,” said Williams.

 

The win pulled Bradley even with Soddy-Daisy in the district at 7-2 after the Trojans fell to Ooltewah last night. The Bears and Trojans end the season with a home-and-home series that could well decide the title.

 

“We knew we had two big series to end the year with Cleveland and ending with Soddy next week. We have to take care of our business and not worry about what anyone else is doing. First thing first, we have to figure out a way to try to beat these guys tomorrow night” Adams said.

 

Williams wasn’t quite as diplomatic as word spread of Ooltewah’s win over Soddy-Daisy.

 

“We were hoping it would come down to the last series. We have a chance to finish it now. That’s a big win for Ooltewah and it puts it in our hands now,” he said.

 

Bradley and Soddy-Daisy both stand at 7-2, while Walker Valley looms at 6-3 after beating McMinn last night. Ooltewah is next at 5-4.

 

BRADLEY CENTRAL   101 002 2 – 6 8 2

CLEVELAND                  200 110 0 – 4 10 3

 

Benton, Black (7) and Taylor; Williams, Johnson (6) and Lee.

 

(Contact James Beach at 1134james@gmail.com or via Twitter @beachnut1134)

 

Sports
Mocs Houk Named SoCon Golfer Of The Week
  • 3/27/2024

Chattanooga Mocs senior John Houk claimed this week’s Southern Conference Golfer of the Week honor with an impressive runner-up performance at the General Hackler Championships. The Athens, Tenn., ... more

UTC Homecoming Set For October 26
  • 3/27/2024

The Chattanooga Mocs completed spring drills prior to Spring Break and are now deep into strength and conditioning work ahead of the summer in preparation for the fall season. One highlight to ... more

Chapman's 5 RBIs Lead Vols To Run-Rule Win Over Tennessee Tech
  • 3/27/2024

A five-RBI game from Reese Chapman and impressive group effort from the pitching staff highlighted No. 5/5 Tennessee's 11-1 run-rule victory over in-state foe Tennessee Tech on Tuesday night ... more