BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Bradford High School batters had just four hits and struck out 10 times versus two Interlachen pitchers in a 13-3 baseball loss on Feb. 21 in Starke.
Nehemiah Flowers hit a two-run double in the bottom of the first to tie the score at 2-2, but the Rams responded with four runs in the second to take the lead for good.
Bradford’s final run came on a Breion Johnson double in the fourth.
The loss was part of a 2-1 week for the Tornadoes (3-2).
On Feb. 19, Ryland Rike pitched a complete-game shutout in a 3-0 win over host Gainesville.
It was a scoreless game going into the seventh. Rike and Patrick Pendarvis both walked. Each runner stole a base before scoring on a Ryder Thompson double. Flowers hit an RBI line drive to account for the final run.
Rike, who struck out all three batters he faced in the bottom of the seventh, allowed one hit and one walk. He struck out six in all.
Bradford traveled to play Yulee on Feb. 20, with Flowers hitting a two-out, two-run double in the fifth that gave the Tornadoes a 9-5 lead in what was an eventual 10-8 win.
The Tornadoes scored the game’s first runs with a four-run second. A Kaedan Parks double and walks issued to Flowers and Jaron Hale loaded the bases. Taylor Bice walked to force the first run in. After Rike ground into a fielder’s choice, which resulted in Flowers being put out at home, Pendarvis hit a two-run double. Thompson and Avery Burgin both walked, with Burgin’s walk forcing a run in.
An error and steals of home by Parks and Thompson helped the Tornadoes keep the lead.
It was 7-5 going into the fifth. Pendarvis and Thompson both walked and then scored on Flowers’ double.
Flowers and Pendarvis each finished with two RBI, while Bice and Burgin each had one.
Parks and Pendarvis each had one double, with Pendarvis going 3 for 4 and Parks going 2 for 5.
Pendarvis entered the game to pitch with two outs and one on in the bottom of the sixth. He promptly recorded a strikeout and went on to strike out three more batters in the seventh. He allowed no hits.
The Tornadoes host Hilliard on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. and will then host Keystone Heights on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m.
On Monday, March 3, Bradford hosts Hamilton County at 6 p.m.
