BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Tayrn Flowers’ RBI double in the top of the seventh proved to be the game winner as the Bradford High School softball team defeated host Buchholz 7-6 on April 21.
The Tornadoes (10-8) held a 6-5 lead going into the final inning, which began with an Addyson Hinds single. One out later, she scored when Flowers, on a full count, hit a ball into center field.
Flowers finished 2 for 3 with the one RBI.
Buchholz got a single and scored a run on a ground out in the bottom of the inning. The Bobcats put a runner on with two outs on a dropped third strike, but a ground out to Bradford second baseman Kolee Lemire ended the game.
The Tornadoes scored the game’s first three runs in the top of the first. Keegan Yowell was hit by a pitch, while Kallie Yowell drew a one-out walk. A Hinds single loaded the bases before Summer Sutton hit into a fielder’s choice, which resulted in Keegan Yowell scoring and Kallie Yowell being put out at third. Flowers walked to load the bases again, setting the stage for a two-run single by Regan Adams.
Buchholz took advantage of three hits and three walks (one with the bases loaded) to score four runs in the fifth and take a 5-3 lead.
Bradford got three runs in the sixth to go up 6-5. After a Flowers single and an Adams walk, Kellsie Cochran bunted and reached on an error, which allowed Flowers to score. Kingslee Phillips then had a ground-out RBI to tie the score at 5-5.
The inning continued with a Keegan Yowell single. Wynn, who went 2 for 3, then drove in a run on a ground out.
Keegan Yowell pitched the final three innings, giving up one run, three hits and no walks, while striking out two.
It was the third straight win for Bradford, which entered the game off defeats of Eastside and P.K. Yonge.
The Tornadoes had only four hits against host Eastside on April 15, but still won big by a score of 14-2 in five innings.
An eight-run third inning saw Bradford score six consecutive runs when batters were hit by pitches with the bases loaded. The inning also included a bases-loaded walk drawn by Phillips and an RBI ground out by Cochran.
Adams, Cochran, Flowers, Hinds, Sutton, Phillips, Wynn, Kendall Mort, Gemma Rodriguez, Kallie Yowell and Keegan Yowell all had one RBI each.
Lemire started in the circle, allowing two runs and one hit through 4.1 innings. She had eight strikeouts.
Keegan Yowell faced the final two batters, striking out both.
On April 16, RBI singles by Adams and Cochran gave the Tornadoes an 8-7 win over visiting P.K. Yonge.
Bradford trailed 7-6 entering the bottom of the sixth, which began with back-to-back singles by Kallie Yowell and Hinds. Sutton hit into a fielder’s choice, which resulted in Yowell being put out at third. A Flowers sacrifice bunt put courtesy runner Mort at third and Sutton at second. Adams hit a single into left to score the tying run, while Cochran hit a single into center to put the Tornadoes ahead 8-7.
Keegan Yowell didn’t allow a hit in the final inning. She pitched 4.2 innings of relief, giving up one run and three hits, while striking out three.
Cochran, who batted 2 for 4 with four RBI, hit a two-run double as part of a three-run second that gave the Tornadoes a 3-2 lead. The inning also included an RBI single by Keegan Yowell.
Bradford trailed 6-3 before Adams (3 for 4 with two RBI) hit a double in the third that scored Hinds, who reached on a leadoff single.
Hinds finished 2 for 4.
A two-run fifth allowed the Tornadoes to tie the score at 6-6. Sutton walked, while Fowers and Adams reached on an error and a single, respectively, to load the bases. A Cochran ground out scored one run, while the other was scored on a Phillips single.
The Tornadoes host Keystone Heights on Tuesday, April 22, at 6 p.m. and will travel to play Newberry on Wednesday, April 23, at 6 p.m.
