BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Luke Stucky drove in four runs, while Cason Pilcher pitched a five-hit shutout for the Bradford High School baseball team, which earned its first win this season, defeating visiting Branford 8-0 on April 8.
The Tornadoes (1-10-1) got the only run they’d need when Kevin Crawford hit a solo homer in the second inning.
It was a 2-0 game when Bradford scored two in the fourth. Kacen Thomassen walked, while Elijah Noonan hit a double. Noonan and courtesy runner Austin Corbin scored on a Stucky single.
Bradford pushed three across in the fifth. The Tornadoes loaded the bases on singles by Crawford and Mattox Burgin and walk given up to Thomassen. Crawford scored on a passed ball before Stucky came through with another two-run single.
Stucky and Crawford each finished 2 for 4.
In going the distance on the mound, Pilcher struck out 12 and gave up just two walks.
Bradford entered the game off a 10-7 loss at Interlachen on April 7.
The Tornadoes took a 7-5 lead with a six-run fifth. They loaded the bases on singles by Burgin and Stucky and a walk given up to Thomassen. Carson Knight was hit by a pitch to force a run in. Courtesy runner Hayden Hughes scored on a Jonathan Brugh ground out. With two outs, Pilcher drove in two runs on a single. An error on the play allowed Pilcher to score as well. Brayden Smyth was then hit by a pitch. He scored when Interlachen committed an error in the outfield on a Foster Smith single.
Interlachen hit two home runs in the bottom of the inning to take an 8-7 lead.
Burgin Crawford and Pilcher each went 2 for 3, with Pilcher driving in two runs and Crawford hitting a double. Stucky went 2 for 4, while Brugh and Knight each had one RBI.
The Tornadoes host Dixie County tonight (April 11) at 7 p.m.
