The scoreboard at AC Bud Ball Field on the Ooltewah campus indicated it was 11 runs which separated the host Owls from the Bradley Bears at the end of Monday night, but the truth of the matter is it was so much more.
Bradley feasted on clutch situations, loading the bases in three separate innings to produce crooked numbers in the run column each occasion, while Ooltewah walked away empty-handed twice with the bases juiced in what turned out to be a 12-1 run-ruled victory for the Bears.
And while that was ultimately the difference, even Ooltewah coach Brian Hitchcox admitted it was so much more in the 5AAA series opener.
“We had a game plan to come out and pound the strike zone and next thing we know we are in the dugout looking for YouTube videos to find out if there was a way to defense bases-loaded walks.
Then when we couldn’t find any answers there we decided the throw at the barrels of their bats. It was not a good plan obviously,” Hitchcox said of the loss.
The Owls walked a total of 10 batters on the night, including four with the bases loaded to force in runs, but the Bears pounced when given the opportunity as three different players came up with key hits with the sacks full. Ashton Simmons had the first blow in the second inning with an opposite field liner to score a run as five Bears crossed the plate in the inning.
Cooper Casteel started the inning with a single to center and a sac bunt was thrown away at second base before another bunt by Daniel Cox loaded the bases. Owl starter Dominic Mackaluso then lost the strike zone completely, walking two straight batters to force in runs before Landon Kibler hit a sac fly to score a third. Dakota Peach followed with a single to load ‘em up again before Simmons’ RBI-knock.
In contrast, Casteel, the Bears’ ace, worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the inning after hitting the leadoff batter and giving up a double Andrew Zettel. Harrison Mills’ soft liner drove Ooltewah’s only run of the night. Another walk loaded the bases before Casteel got two straight strikeouts to cut the rally short.
“I didn’t have my best stuff early, but as funny as it sounds, I actually pitch better when guys are on bases because it doesn’t bother me, but rather makes me focus more. I had good defense behind me, and we put up some runs on the board,” said Casteel, who struck out 10 and allowed just three hits.
The Owls loaded the bases again in the third but came away with nothing to show. A Bryson Smith to lead it off and two walks were followed by a lazy fly out and another strikeout to strand three more of the eight runners Ooltewah left on base.
“We dodged a couple of bullets, but with Cooper on the mound we felt pretty good. There’s no magic number for him, but when he gets a few runs, we like our chances. He settled in and got the job done. I was afraid it we were going to be stuck on five runs for the night, but we got some big hits to add to it. Tomorrow is a new day, though, so we’ll try to build off of tonight,” said Bear coach Travis Adams.
Bradley did add to it in fifth with four more runs. Lambreth opened it with a solid single and three more walks forced in the sixth run before Kibler, the number nine hitter, cleared the bases with a double just inside the right field line. Kibler wound up with four RBI on the night.
That was all for Mackaluso who left after five innings, but unfortunately it wasn’t over for the walk parade. Patrick Clarkson walked three more in the sixth and gave up Casteel’s run-scoring single before Aiden McClary greeted new pitcher Zach Cates with a two-run single to give the Bears an even dozen on the night, a season-high in runs for the Bears.
Even with scoring 11 runs last Tuesday in a 5AAA run-ruling of Walker Valley, Bradley still came into the game as the lowest scoring team in the league. But against an Ooltewah team which has allowed more runs than any team in league play, Bradley picked right up where it left off last week.
“These are all just practice games until we get to May, but it’s nice to see us heading in the right direction,” said Adams.
Ooltewah, on the other hand, has now lost three straight in league play and have pretty much eliminated itself from one of the coveted top three spots for the tournament and the first-round byes that come with them.
“Pitchers are getting very very comfortable pitching against us. We’re not aggressive at the plate until we fall behind and then we swing at dirt balls. It’s a tough way to be successful. Give their guy credit for taking advantage of it,” Hitchcox added.
Lambreth, Casteel and McClary each had two hits for the Bears who are now 12-10 overall and 6-3 in league play. Ooltewah falls to 10-12 and 4-7. The two teams will conclude the series Tuesday at Bradley.
BRADLEY CENTRAL 050 043 – 12 9 1
OOLTEWAH 010 000 – 1 3 1
Casteel and Lambreth; Mackaluso, Clarkson (6), Cates (6) and Zettel.
(Contact James Beach at 1134james@gmail.com)