CLEVELAND, Tenn. — For the second time in 10 days, Bradley Central bounced back from an early deficit to rally past archrival Cleveland Friday evening, at Bill Talley Stadium.
"All around great team win. Solid defense," proclaimed veteran "Papa Bear" Travis Adams after the 5-2 victory evened the Bears' record at 6-6 on the campaign.
Both local teams open district play Monday with a new format three-game series.
Bradley will entertain Howard on Monday and Thursday and travel to Chattanooga to face the Hustlin' Tigers Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Cleveland (8-7) will host county-rival Walker Valley on Monday and Thursday, plus travel to Mike Turner Field Tuesday.
On Friday, April 6, the Bears will entertain the Mustangs, while the Blue Raiders go down to Georgia to face Heritage and Catoosa in a twinbill.
Both teams managed just four singles Friday, but Bradley made more than the most of its, putting four runs on the scoreboard in the fifth and one more in the seventh.
Cleveland got the scoring started in its opening at bat when Virginia Tech signee Mycah Jordan reached base on a fielder's choice, then stole second and came around to score on a two-out hit by senior Jack McBrayer.
After Bear starting pitcher Ethan Wilds struggled a bit with the first 11 batters, giving up a pair of hits and three free passes, Coach Adams brought Jonathan Alomar to the hill with runners on the corners and nobody out.
The sophomore righty not only struck out the first two Raiders he faced, but notched a half dozen Ks in seven batters face in the third and fourth innings, which eventually earned him the win.
"Alomar's inning in the third to get out of that was huge momentum boost," the Bear mentor proclaimed.
Cleveland got a quality start out of sophomore Christian Lee, who gave up just one hit of scoreless ball. However, in the top of the fifth things went south for the lefty with the first five Bears got on base.
After sophomore Tyler Cook opened with an infield single, pinch runner Jadon Griffey stole second. Northwestern University football signee Tito Williams followed by drawing a base on balls.
Lee University signee Alex Brew jammed the sacks by beating out a perfectly placed bunt.
Junior Jaxon Humble brought in the first Bear run with a fielder's choice grounder.
Classmate Spane Bristol followed with a RBI-hit to right field, forcing first-year Cleveland head coach Brent Tucker to bring out the hook.
With McBrayer taking the bump her was greeted with a two-run single by senior Luke Keith.
"Luke’s hit to extend the lead was timely," assessed Coach Adams. "Spane is coming through in pivotal times was also key."
With the lead, Coach Adams brought in closer Brody Casteel for the final three frames to earn his third save of the season.
After the first three Raiders reached base in the seventh and River Briggs scores on a Jordan fielder's choice, Casteel bowed his back to strikeout the final two Cleveland batters.
"Brody closing the door in the seventh was a big time moment for this time of the year,"the Bear mentor stated. While the Cleveland State signee did give up a trio of free passes and a pair of hits, he recorded five of his nine outs by strikeouts.
Bradley's final run came in the top of the seventh when the game's only error and back-to-back walks loaded the bases before Keith lifted a sac fly to bring in Humble.
Keith got on base twice with his hit and a base on balls, while Raider senior Cutter Womack was hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the first, plus he added a single and a walk.
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BRADLEY CENTRAL
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CLEVELAND
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Wild, Alomar (3), Casteel (5) and Bristol; Lee, McBrayer (5) and Tippens.
WP: Alomar. LP: Lee. Save: Casteel.
Records: Bradley Central 6-6; Cleveland 8-7.
(Email Joe Cannon at joe.cannon@clevelandbanner.com)