BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Starting pitcher Ryland Rike struck out nine batters, while Jaxson Carter drove in three runs in the Bradford High School baseball team’s 8-1 win over visiting Hamilton County on March 3.
The Tornadoes (6-3) scored five runs in the third and fourth innings to go up 7-1.
Avery Burgin led off the bottom of the third with a single. Breion Johnson and Carter hit back-to-back doubles, with Burgin and Johnson scoring on Carter’s hit. Carter then scored on a Taylor Bice single.
Johnson and Carter each drove in a run in the fourth, scoring Kaedan Parks, who singled, and Burgin, who reached on an error.
Burgin and Rike went 2 for 3 and 2 for 4, respectively.
Bice, Johnson, Kyler Hall and Gabe Rhoden each had one RBI.
Rike pitched five innings, allowing one run and five hits.
Patrick Pendarvis threw the final inning, giving up no hits.
Bradford travels to play P.K. Yonge on Friday, March 7, at 7 p.m. The Tornadoes then host Baker County on Tuesday, March 11, at 6:30 p.m.
