Once again Bradley Central came out on the wrong side of a hard-luck, one-run difference Friday, bringing their 2025 campaign to a close just shy of a return trip to the TSSAA Class 4A State Baseball Championships.
After averaging 6.5 runs a game this season, for the second straight day the Bears couldn't come up with a run, falling to ninth-ranked Siegel in a TSSAA Sectional series at the McKenzie Baseball Complex.
A day after being limited to just one hit, Bradley did manage five hits, plus four free passes from a pair of Star hurlers Friday, plus reached on a pair of errors, but left all 10 "ducks on the pond."
Being the "visiting team" in the second game of the best-of-3 series, Bradley opened the game with back-to-back singles from seniors Jaxon Humble and Spane Bristol.
After a strikeout and a pop up, a two-out walk to classmate Carson Stott loaded the bases, but to no avail as the next batter forced him out on a fielder's choice grounder.
The Bears got a two-out single by Landon Rogers in the top of the second, but once again a ground ball erased him with a fielder's choice.
Siegel (30-13) picked up the game's only score when Jack Penceck opened the bottom of the second with a double, moved to third on a ground out and after a walk to a teammate, came home on a sacrifice fly.
Bradley threatened again when junior Jaden Griffey reached on an error to open the fifth, Humble stroked a one-out double and junior Tyler Cook was intentionally walked to pack the sacks, but the final Bear took a called third strike on a 3-2 fastball to leave them stranded.
The Bears were able to get a couple of baserunners in the sixth as sophomore Nate Thompson reached on a Siegel miscue and senior Bronson Stone drew a one-out walk.
However, the next two Bears popped up and once again watched as strike three go by on a full-count pitch.
The Black-and-Gold had one last chance to tie it in the top of the seventh, when Humble capped his four-year starting prep career with a double to open the at bat, but could only advance to third on a sac fly before the final out was recorded.
The Cleveland State signee had the majority of the Bears hits, going 3-for-4 at the dish.
Stone went the distance on the hill for the Bears, allowing just four hits and a pair of free passes, while putting 62.7% of his pitches (52-of-83) in the strike zone.
GAME SUMMARY
TSSAA Class 4A
Sectional
Friday, May 17
at Joe Adams Field
Bradley Central 000 000 0 — 0 5 1
Siegel 010 000 x — 1 4 2
WP: Jaxon Barrett 4.1 IP, 4 Ks, 2 BB, 4 hits 0 ER. LP: Bronson Stone 6 IP, 1 K, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 4 hits, 1 ER. Save: Cameron Lee 2.2 IP, 4 Ks, 2 BB, 1 hit, 0 ER. 2B: Jaxon Humble (BC); Jack Penceck (S). RBI: BC none; Josh Duggin (S). RECORDS Bradley Central 21-16-1; Siegel 30-13.