BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Visiting Williston built a 13-3 lead and eventually defeated the Bradford High School baseball team 17-8 on March 13.
The Tornadoes (6-6) got a two-run home run from Patrick Pendarvis in the bottom of the first, which left Bradford trailing 3-2. Bradford then tied the score in second when Taylor Bice, who walked, scored on Ryland Rike’s two-out double.
Williston scored 10 runs over the next three innings to take a 13-3 lead before the Tornadoes scored four in the bottom of the fifth. Bradford had the bases loaded with two outs when Breion Johnson hit a two-run double. Bice then walked to load the bases again, with Matthew Stafford stepping to the plate and hitting his own two-run double, making the score 13-7.
The Red Devils added four runs over the final two innings before Bradford scored its final run in the bottom of the seventh.
Johnson and Pendarvis each batted 2 for 3, with Pendarvis driving in three runs and Johnson driving in two.
Rike and Ryder Thompson each went 2 for 4, with Rike driving in one run.
Stafford finished with two RBI.
Bradford entered the game off a 9-3 loss to visiting Baker County on March 11.
The Wildcats scored seven of the game’s first eight runs.
Rike and Johnson went 3 for 4 and 2 for 3, respectively.
Avery Burgin had two RBI, while Thompson had one.
Thompson pitched the final three innings, giving up two runs (one earned)
The Tornadoes travel to play Interlachen on Friday, March 14, at 7 p.m. and then host Gainesville on Monday, March 17, at 7 p.m.
Bradford hosts Wolfson on Tuesday, March 18, at 7 p.m. before traveling to play Hilliard on Thursday, March 20, at 7 p.m.
On Monday, March 24, the Tornadoes travel to play Baker County at 4 p.m. Bradford will then travel to play Hamilton County on Tuesday, March 25, at 6 p.m.
