BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Prior to losing 11-3 to Keystone Heights on Feb. 27 (see related post), the Bradford High School baseball team won two straight games, scoring 10 runs in each.
On Feb. 25, the Tornadoes hosted Hilliard, putting together and eight-run third inning in what was a 10-2 win.
The scoring in the big inning began when Ryland Rike, who reached on an error, was brought home on a Patrick Pendarvis single. After Ryder Thompson was hit by a pitch, an Avery Burgin single pushed two runs across. Nehemiah Flowers singled before the Tornadoes got another two-run single, this time from Jaxson Carter. A Breion Johnson single and a Matthew Stafford walk loaded the bases. Rike came back up to bat and hit a two-run double. Stafford scored the inning’s final run on a passed ball.
Burgin, Carter, Pendarvis and Rike all finished with two RBI each, with Pendarvis going 2 for 3 with a double and Burgin going 2 for 4.
Rike pitched a complete game, giving up six hits and striking out nine.
Kadean Parks hit a double and a triple and drove in four runs in Bradford’s 10-5 win over visiting Parker on Feb. 26.
Like the previous game, the Tornadoes had a big third inning, scoring seven runs. Johnson walked and scored on Jaron Hale’s sacrifice fly. With two outs and no one on, Rike and Pendarvis walked, while Thompson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. All three scored on a Parks double. After Parks scored on a Burgin single, Flowers hit a two-run homer to put the Tornadoes up 7-0.
Rike and Parks finished 2 for 3 and 2 for 4, respectively, while Flowers had two RBI.
Burgin, Carter and Hale each finished with one RBI.
Starting pitcher Burgin gave up four runs and five hits through 5.1 innings. He had four strikeouts.
Stafford finished it off on the mound, allowing one run and two hits.
