Claiming its fifth Region 3 baseball championship in seven straight trips to the title tilt, Bradley Central took a second straight one-run battle from an in-county rival to claim the crown Sunday, at Bill Talley Stadium.
"Another hard-fought game by both starting pitchers. I can’t say enough about Bronson's (Stone) outing and how he kept his composure in some critical moments," commented veteran "Papa Bear" Travis Adams of Sunday's 2-1 win over archrival Cleveland.
Bear junior Tyler Cook struck out 13 and put 77% of his pitches in the strike zone in a 1-0 win over the 10-K performance by Walker Valley ace Titus Torbett in Friday's region opener.
A pair of early unearned runs and an outstanding pitching performance by senior Bronson Stone Sunday overcame a strong mound outing by Cleveland junior Owen Goglio.
"We got out of some jams for sure and played good defense. Offensively, we did just enough to create some situations that ended up scoring those runs," proclaimed Coach Adams.
"Proud of the boys and overcoming everything that has been thrown our way. Now it’s on to a big sectional series with a talented Siegel team starting Thursday to try and punch a ticket back to the state tourney," he said off leading his Bears to their 10th TSSAA Sectional in his 18th season in his alma mater's dugout.
Region 4 runner-up Siegel (29-13) will come to Joe Adams Field for a best-of-3 substate series, starting Thursday at 6 p.m., with Game 2 set for the same time Friday, with an "if necessary" game Saturday at noon.
The victor advances to the TSSAA State Championships the following week at the Spring Fling, in Murfreesboro.
BEARS 2, RAIDERS 1: Cleveland State signee Jaxon Humble started the game with a short hopper to second base that skipped under the glove of the defender for an infield single, then swiped second and came around to score a few moments later on a Raider throwing error.
Bradley added another score in the top of the second when Stone was hit by his counterpart to open the at bat. Courtesy runner Landon Miller was able to move to third on a one-out bunt single by Jaden Griffey and a throwing error on the play. Humble drove Miller in on his second hit in as many tries, this one heading into right field.
After needing just seven pitches to set Cleveland down in order in the opening frame, Stone got the first two batters out in the second inning before Roane State commit Tyler Gardner reached on an infield hit, but was erased when the next batter grounded into a fielder's choice.
Although both teams got base runners on in the next two frames, but neither could get them around to score.
Cleveland finally got the goose egg off the scoreboard when Goglio opened the bottom of the fifth with a single. Jayden Bates followed with a little punch hit into short left field and District 5 Player of the Year River Briggs put down a bunt and reached on a throwing miscue to load the bases.
Sophomore Sam Coleman drove in the home team's lone run with a sacrifice fly to center field, but while Goglio raced home, the throw went to third base, trapping the Raider running in a rundown for a double play.
Stone close out the victory by setting down the final half dozen Cleveland batters in order, needing just five pitches in the bottom of the sixth and 20 in the seventh to set off the "dogpile" celebration.
Striking out four and not issuing a walk, but giving a free pass on a controversial hit batsman call, the senior righty faced just 27 batters, throwing only 75 pitches, 49 off which were in the strike zone (65.3%).
Goglio tossed 102 pitches, with 60 strikes (58.8%) in 6.2 innings, while Gardner took the bump to get the final two Bears out on 11 pitches, including a strike out.
Both teams knocked out just four hits, with Humble celebrating his birthday with a 2-for-2 hitting line, with two walks, a stolen base, a RBI and a run scored.
Stone stoked a double and was "plunked," while Griffey also had a hit and "took one for the team" for the Bears.
Goglio helped his own cause with a 2-for-3 day at the dish and the run scored, while Garner had a hit and was hit by a pitch, plus Bates stroked a one-bagger.
GAME SUMMARY
Region 3-4A
Tournament
Championship Game
Sunday, May 11
at Bill Talley Stadium
Bradley Central 110 000 0 — 2 4 2
Cleveland 000 010 0 — 1 4 3
WP: Bronson Stone 7 IP, 4 Ks, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 4 hits, 0 ER. LP: Owen Goglio 6.1 IP, 7 Ks, 3 BB, 3 HBP, 4 hits, 0 ER. 2B: Bronson Stone (BC). RBI: Jaxon Humble (BC); Sam Coleman (C). RECORDS: Bradley Central 19-16-1; Cleveland 26-11.