BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Prior to its 12-4 loss to Keystone Heights on March 25 (see related story), the Bradford High School softball team dropped two in a row, getting outscored 23-4 by Branford and Orange Park.
The Tornadoes had just one hit in a 15-1 loss to visiting Branford on March 18. Branford, last year’s Class 1A state runner-up, hit three home runs, including a grand slam.
Bradford’s lone run occurred in the first. Rylie Blankenship hit a leadoff single and advanced to second on a Tinsley Higginbotham ground out before scoring on an error.
On March 20, the Tornadoes fell behind 5-0 in an 8-3 loss to Orange Park.
It was 8-1 before Bradford scored two in the bottom of the seventh. Carly Beggs and Blankenship hit back-to-back singles with one out. Amber Wynn reached on a ground-ball error that allowed a run to score. Keegan Yowell, who went 2 for 4 with two RBI, then hit a double to score another run.
Two straight strikeouts ended the game.
Kallie Yowell and Wynn each hit a double and went 2 for 3 and 2 for 4, respectively. Addyson Hinds also hit a double.
