Bradley Central Scores Late; Edges McMinn Co., 3-2

Bear's Cash In On Swinging Strike Three For Three Runs In Sixth

Monday, March 25, 2024
Joe Cannon

CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- As always when oldest rivals Bradley Central and McMinn County tangle, "it ain't over, 'til it's over," which was the case once again when they locked horns at the McKenzie Baseball Complex Monday.

With left-handed college bound senior aces Alex Brew and Ty Barnett going-head-to-head fans knew it would be an exciting night. They weren't disappointed as the Bears turned a swinging strike three into a trio of runs in their final at bat to pull out a 3-2 victory.

Playing a home-and-home series, the rematch in Athens has been moved from Tuesday, due to forecasted rain, to Wednesday evening.

Bradley (4-6) will travel across town to archrival Cleveland (6-6) on Good Friday, in a rematch of last week's 4-2 Bears victory, while McMinn County (7-4) will host Ooltewah (1-8) that day at noon as well.

Although Bradley got a runner on base in each of the first three frames, including two singles, Barnett faced just one batter over the minimum with one Bear gunned down trying to steal and another caught off base on a line-drive double play at the second base bag.

The University of Cincinnati commit then mowed down six off the next seven home town batters with strikeouts.

Brew countered with a pair of scoreless innings to start, although having to work out of jams in both, stranding four Cherokees.

In the top of the third the Lee University signee once again allowed a pair of hits to open the inning, with McMinn being able to cash in when after a wild pitch moved Carson-Newman commit Mason Roderick to second, Alabama commit Brooks Berry drove him home.

Once again Brew was able to leave a couple of "ducks on the pond," to only give up one run.

The Tribe opened the fourth with three straight hits, but Brew was able to pick one off first before Roderick brought home Landon Roberts on a ground out fielder's choice, but that was the only score by McMinn.

Junior Jonathan Alomar took the hill for the home team in the fifth and set down six of the seven batters he faced and picked up the win when his teammates rally in the bottom of the sixth.

After senior Teigen Cassada beat out an infield hit to open the rally, Brew worked Barnett for a base on balls.

Junior Jaxon Humble moved them both up with a perfect sac bunt.

Spane Bristol stepped into the batter's box with an unexpected result. After swinging at strike three the ball bounced out of the Cherokee catcher's mitt and rolled just in front of the base.

While a good throw to first to complete the out would leave the runners on second and third, the ball sailed well over the first baseman's head and into the right field bullpen.

Both Cassada and Brew came home easily, but on the relay from the outfield, the throw to try to get Bristol at third was off target and went into a deadball area, allowing him to trot home with what turned out to the game-winning run.

Spane also reached on an infield hit in the opening inning and ripped a ringing double off the left field wall in the fourth.

Cassada reached on a pair of infield hits, while Cleveland State signee Hank Adams added a single as well.

Senior Brody Casteel, another Cougar signee, came on to pitch the final frame for the Bears and picked up the save, setting the Tribe down in order, including a game-ending strike out.

McMinn collected seven hits in the contest with Roderick knocking a pair, while Hunter McDonald laced a double.

Luke Lawson, Chase McDonald and Landon Roberts reached twice with a hit and a walk apiece, while Reece Frazier drew a pair of free passes.