Bradley Central and Howard opened District 6-4A play with a doubleheader at the Toby McKenzie Baseball Complex on Monday with the Bears claiming two shutouts by 13-0 in each "run rule"’ game for the sweep of the Hustlin’ Tigers.
The teams were originally scheduled to play a three-game district set with games at BCHS on Monday and Thursday, sandwiched around a visit to Howard on Tuesday, but the incoming weather forecast forced the schedule change.
The Thursday game will find the Bears (8-6, 2-0 District 6-4A) traveling to Howard (2-8, 0-2) for the district encounter, with the first pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Things started quietly for both teams in the first as Bear senior Hunter Jordan set down the Tigers in order with, but the hosts did the same in the bottom of the inning before things unraveled for the Tigers in the second frame.
Jorden struck out the side in the second, while the Bradley plated five runs in its at bat with UTC commit (football) Luke Keith reaching on a leadoff walk, followed by back-to-back singles by Bryan College signee Josh Leek and Cleveland State signee Hank Adams that loaded the bases.
Keith then scored on a wild pitch with both runners advancing and Leek then came home on a passed ball. After a Bear strikeout for the initial out of the inning, Teigan Cassada walked and Northwestern signee (football) Tito Williams ripped a single to right field, scoring Adams and Cassada before he scored on a passed ball to make it 5-0 heading to the third inning.
Jordan continued his masterful pitching before allowing the first Tiger runner on a walk with two away in the third, before leaving after four innings, surrendering just two hits as he allowed one base on balls and recorded seven strikeouts.
The fifth inning proved fateful for the Tigers with the Bears putting eight runs on the board to make it 13-0 in the shortened game. Five Bears reached base after getting ‘plunked’ by Tiger pitching. Mix in three passed balls with three walks and a wild pitch and the game was over as Lee University signee Alex Brew closed out the game with a perfect fifth inning.
Williams, Brew and Cassada led the Bear onslaught with two ribbies apiece with Adams and second-sacker Jaxon Humble credited with two base knocks each.
The nightcap was a close repeat of the Monday opener with Bronson Stone pitching 1-hit, shutout ball over the first three innings, with no walks as he picked up four strikeouts.
He was followed by Cleveland State signee Brody Casteel and Leek with back-to-back perfect innings in the fourth and fifth frames as both struck out the Tigers for the final six outs.
The Bears didn’t wait until the second inning of this game as they scored five runs in the first and added seven more in the second before closing out the scoring with a single run in the third.
Tiger pitching let them down in the second game as they issued 12 free passes while the defense committed three fielding errors with the Bears needing just seven hits to go with the fielding blunders and free passes to match their first game with the 13-0 win.
Catcher Colby Stott had three RBI to lead the Bears, with third baseman Spane Bristol chasing two Bears home as Humble, Bristol, Adams and Cassada each touched home twice in the blowout.
The Bears played errorless ball throughout the doubleheader and will go for the sweep on Thursday at Howard.
Game Summaries
District 6-4A
Monday, April 1
at McKenzie Baseball Complex
Game 1
Howard 000 00 — 0 2 0
Bradley Central 058 0x — 13 8 0
WP—Jordan, LP—Langston. RBI: Brew 2, Cassada 2, Williams 2, Humble, Leek (BC).
Game 2
Howard 000 00 — 0 1 3
Bradley Central 581 0x — 13 7 0
WP—Stone. LP—Coulter. RBI: Stott 3, Bristol 2, Brew, Humble, Stone (BC). Records: Howard 2-8, 0-2 District 6-4A; Bradley Central 8-6, 2-0 District 6-4A.
