CHATTANOOGA — The Bradley Central softball squad did its part to claim a share of the District 6-4A regular season championship with a blow out of Howard Monday.
Exploding for a 17-1 victory on just five hits, the Bearettes (11-15, 5-1 District 6-4A) took advantage of a dozen walks and 10 hit batsmen, plus a trio of errors by the hosts.
Coach Hallie Geren also got a complete-game, one-hit pitching performance from freshman Ma'Ryah Greenwood, who made her first varsity start in the circle.
Weather permitting, Bradley is supposed to head across town to arch-rival Cleveland High Tuesday for a makeup game.
Coach Geren's crew is also slated to host Whitwell Wednesday in the season finale.
The Bearettes are also preparing for the District 6 Tournament, starting Friday at East Hamilton.
The host Hurricanes (15-9, 5-1) wrapped up their district slate at Howard Tuesday. Tying them atop the District 6-4A standings with Bradley, but East Ham holds the tie-breaker for the No. 1 seed.
After Friday's opening round, the double-elimination event will continue Monday and Tuesday.
The Bearettes will tangle with third-seeded Ooltewah at 7 Friday evening, while the Lady Hurricanes will repeat with Howard, in the 5 p.m. opener.
Taking control immediately, Bradley exploded for 10 runs in the game's opening at bat, chasing the Howard starter who gave up eight free passes, but just one hit and nine runs while only recording one out.
The Bearettes tacked on a 4-spot in the top of the second and their final three scores in the fourth.
Howard picked up its only unearned run in the bottom of the fourth.
Although Bradley circled the bases 17 times, it left 11 "ducks on the pond," while Greenwood faced just three batters over the minimum, stranding two.
Junior Georgia Gibson led the Bearette bats, going 2-for-4, plus was "plunked" once, with three RBI and scoring twice.
Sophomore Karly Farkas also plated a trio of teammates without benefit of a hit, but she drew a pair of free passes and scored once.
Greenwood helped her own cause with a single while also drawing three walks, scoring thrice and driving in a run.
Sophomore Miley Broom notched a pair of "ribbies," with a trio of free passes and scored twice.
Freshman Landry Johnson helped out with a hit and a walk, forcing in a run and scoring twice.
Sophomore Gracie Ownby went 1-for-3 at the dish with walk and circled the bases once.
Classmate Alliyssia Herbold and freshman Addi Staton reached base four times each with a pair of "plunks" and two bases on balls, with the former plating a teammate and completing the circuit twice, while the latter also came around to score twice.
Senior Madison Long took three shots for the team, driving in a run and scoring twice.
Game Summary
District 6-4A
Monday, April 29
in Chattanooga
Bradley Central  (10)40  30 — 17  5  1
Howard          000    10 —  1  1  3
WP: Ma'Ryah Greenwood 5 IP, 12 Ks, 0 BB, 1 hit, 0 ER. LP: Taylor Thorton. 2B: Eunique Hamilton (H). RBI: Karly Farkas 3, Georgia Gibson 3, Miley Broom 2, Greenwood, Alliyssia Herbold, Madison Long, Landry Johnson (BC). Records: Bradley Central 11-15, 5-1 District 6-4A; Howard 1-12, 0-5 District 6-4A.
