BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Tinsley Higginbotham and Amber Wynn each hit an RBI single as part of a five-run seventh to help the Bradford High School softball team defeat Class 6A Buchholz 16-12 on April 8 in Gainesville.
The Class 3A Tornadoes scored nine runs in the final two innings.
Carly Beggs hit a two-run double in a four-run sixth, which also included an RBI single from Rylie Blankenship and a sacrifice bunt by Wynn, which scored a run.
Bradford broke an 11-11 tie in the seventh when an error allowed a run to score. A Madison Highland ground out scored a run before Higginbotham and Wynn hit their run-scoring singles. Keegan Yowell was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring the Tornadoes’ final run across.
Highland went 2 for 4 with three RBI, while Beggs and Wynn, who was 2 for 5, each drove in two runs.
Blankenship and Addyson Hinds each went 2 for 3 with an RBI, while Higginbotham was 2 for 5 with an RBI.
Yowell, Summer Sutton and Kallie Yowell each had one RBI.
The Tornadoes went 1-1 in their previous two games, beginning with an 8-7 loss at Class 1A Hilliard on April 3.
Bradford built a 5-1 lead, with Highland hitting a two-run double in the first and driving in a run on a single in the third. The third inning also included an RBI double from Keegan Yowell.
An RBI single from Blankenship in the fifth tied the score at 6-6, but Hilliard scored two runs in the bottom of the inning on two singles and a double.
Highland finished with three RBI, going 2 for 4.
Blankenship and Wynn each went 3 for 5, with Blankenship driving in one run.
Sutton went 3 for 4, while Hinds and Kallie Yowell each went 2 for 4. Yowell had one RBI.
Keegan Yowell also finished with one RBI.
Pitchers Keegan Yowell and Bailey Smith combined on a shutout in Bradford’s 12-0, five-inning win over Class 3A Bolles on April 5 in Jacksonville.
Bradford had a seven-run first, which included RBI singles from Beggs, Blankenship and Kallie Yowell. Runs also scored on a ground out by Highland, a fielder’s choice on a ground ball hit by Sutton, a passed ball and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Hinds.
Highland and Sutton each had two RBI, with Sutton going 2 for 3 with a double.
Blankenship and Kallie Yowell each went 2 for 3 with an RBI.
The Tornadoes also got one RBI each from Beggs, Higginbotham and Hinds.
Keegan Yowell started in the circle, giving up four hits and two walks, while striking out four in four innings.
Smith allowed one hit in the final inning.
The Tornadoes will host Class 5A Gainesville on Wednesday, April 10, at 7 p.m. and then host Class 1A Union County on Thursday, April 11, at 6:30 p.m. Bradford travels to play Gainesville on Monday, April 15, at 7 p.m. and then travels to play Class 3A Interlachen on Tuesday, April 16, at 6 p.m.
