Getting back on track after a heartbreaking nine-inning loss to Ooltewah Wednesday, the Bradley Central baseball team bounced back to claim the District 5-4A series with a "run-rule" win in the rubber game Thursday, on Joe Adams Field.
Rebounding from the 2-1 outcome the night before, the Bears exploded for an 11-1 "mercy-rule" victory to win the series, having taken Tuesday's opener 5-1.
Bradley (9-10-1, 2-1 District 5-4A) will travel to East Hamilton Monday and Thursday for more league play, plus host the Hurricanes Tuesday evening.
Ooltewah (11-8-1, 1-2) will take on Howard in a district three-game series, Monday and Thursday at Bud Ball Field and Tuesday on the Hustlin' Tigers home field.
The Owls put up the first score with three straight one-walks in the top of the second and run-scoring single by Brock Smallen, but Bear hurler Drake Allen picked off a runner on the old fake to third and throw to first pickoff move and then struck out the next batter to end the threat.
After leaving a couple of "ducks on the pond" in its opening at bat, Bradley put up four straight crooked numbers to end the game early.
Six straight hits to open the bottom of the second brought home four runs.
Colby Stott, Bronson Stone and Jonathan Alomar each stroked one-base knocks to load the bases before Garrett Cross delivered the lone extra-base hit of the contest, plating Stott and Stone with a rope to right field for a double.
Senior Jaxon Humble followed with a single for the first two his five RBI in the contest.
Going 4-for-4 on the night, the Cleveland State signee drove in two more with a two-out knock in the bottom of the third, which also saw Stone get "plunked" and later score on a wild pitch.
Back-to-back walks and a single by Colby Stott jammed the sacks to open the fourth at bat, with Stone and Alomar both ripping run-scoring hits.
The first five Bears reached in the bottom of the fifth with RBI-singles by Spane Bristol and Stone ending the game.
Bradley bats knocked 16 hits, plus drew nine free passes, Stone went 3-for-3 and was hit by a pitch, driving in a pair of runs and scoring twice.
Colby Stott got on base four times with a couple of singles and two walks, plus completed the circuit twice.
Jaden Griffey went 2-for-3 and was "plunked," while Alomar was 2-of-2 and "walked the line" before scoring a couple of runs.
Although he had to work out of some jams, Drake Allen went the distance on the hill for Bradley, striking out seven, handing out five walks and five hits, but forcing the Owls to strand 10 base runners.
GAME SUMMARY
District 6-4A
Thursday, April 3
at Joe Adams Field
Ooltewah 010 00 — 1 5 1
Bradley Central 043 22 — 11 16 1
WP: Drake Allen 5 IP, 7 Ks, 5 BB, 5 hits, 1 ER. LP: Paul Ferguson 2.1 IP, 2 Ks, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 7 hits 5 ER. 2B: Garrett Cross (BC). RBI: Brock Smallen (O); Jaxon Humble 5, Bronson Stone 2, Spane Bristol (BC). RECORDS: Ooltewah 11-8-1, 1-2 District 6-4A; Bradley Central 9-10-1, 2-1 District 6-4A.