After a pair of impressive wins over state-ranked teams to open the Trojan Classic, Bradley Central appeared on its way to a 17th straight win when four-run rally in the final inning snapped it.
Pushing their near month-long winning streak to 16, the Bears started with a 2-1 narrow victory over sixth-ranked (DII-A) Silverdale Baptist Academy, the Bears then breezed past No. 20 (4A) Wilson Central 9-2, at the McKenzie Baseball Complex Friday.
After Mother Nature forced a change of venue for Saturday's finale Bradley held a 5-3 edge going into what turned out to be the final frame of the rematch of the 2023 Region3 semifinal matchup before imploding, allowing Shelbyville to rally for a 7-6 win — thanks to five free passes and a pair of hits, at Bill Talley Stadium.
"We had a little blow up in the sixth, then the (tournament) time limit got us. It was all self imposed," explained veteran "Papa Bear" Travis Adams of the game not going the full seven innings.
"We had a good, fun run (since March 23) and are looking forward to staying sharp and making a postseason run with these guy!
"We've gotta keep focused on the little things that create winning ways," he assessed.
The 16-game winning streak is the longest by a Bear team since the 1994 TSSAA State Championship run 30 years ago, when the 1994 team went 35-2, on which Travis Adams was the shortstop.
Now 18-7 on the campaign, Bradley will host Rhea County Monday for Senior Night at 7 p.m., before traveling to county-rival Walker Valley Friday.
BEARS 2
SEAHAWKS 1
The three hurlers in the contest combined to allow just one earned run in the hard-fought battle.
Taking advantage of the first of two SBA miscues, the Bears put a run on the board in the bottom of the first when Lee University signee Alex Brew reached, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on the other Seahawk error.
After going down quietly in the first three frames, Silverdale got its goose egg off the scoreboard in the fourth, likewise taking advantage of a Bear miscue on a ball hit by Tanner Bayne.
Owen Phillips followed with a double down the right field line to put two runners in scoring position. A sac fly by Maddox Jones brought the run in.
Bradley wasted no time answering in the bottom of the frame when junior DH Spane Bristol blasted a one-out shot over the left field fence for what turned out to be the game-winning run.
Colby Stott stroked a double just inside the third base line for the hosts, while Cleveland State signee Hank Adams and classmate Teigan Cassada both knocked one-base hits as the Bears left four "ducks on the pond."
Bayne, Caleb Voss and Jacob Shelton each singled for the visitors, who stranded five base runners.
The Bear pitching duo of senior Hunter Jordan and junior Jonathan Alomar threw a combined four-hitter. Jordan went the first four innings, striking out three and walking just one for the win, while Alomar tossed three shutout frames for the save.
Maddux Hasty went the distance for Silverdale, striking out just two and giving up five hits, but no free passes.
BEARS 9
WILDCATS 2
After able to push across just a pair of runs in the opener, Bradley scored in four of its half dozen at bat, exploding for four runs in the first try in the nightcap.
Leadoff man Brew started the 11-hit Bear onslaught with a single in the bottom of the first, followed by Cook drawing a walk.
After a fielder's choice notched the first out, the next five Bears reached base, including RBI singles by Jaxon Humble and Adams, plus Northwestern football signee Tito Williams and Josh Leek, who has signed with Bryan College, drawing run-scoring walks.
Getting out of a Wildcat bases-loaded jam without giving up a run in the top of the second, Bradley tacked on another score in the bottom half of the frame when Humble laced two-out RBI-double.
Wilson Central (16-7) got a two-run "jack" from Luke Shaughnessy in the top of the third, which was the only hit Cook gave up in tossing the first four innings for the victory.
After a pair of scoreless frames, the hosts picked up a score on back-to-back doubles by Bristol and Humble opened the bottom of the fifth.
Putting the cap on the victory, the Black-and-Gold circled the bases three times in the sixth.
Brew and Cleveland State signee Brody Casteel knocked one-out back-to-back one-base hits before UTC football signee Luke Keith jammed the sacks with a walk.
Humble, who went 3-for-4 and scored three times, drove in his third RBI with a ground out before a second run came in on the play due to a Wildcat error. Adams drove in the final run with his second hit of the contest.
After Cook left the mound in the fifth frame, Alomar and Casteel combined for three one-hit, shutout innings to seal the win.
EAGLES 7
BEARS 6
After negating a game-opening single with a double play to end the top of the first, Bradley put the first run on the board when Brew laced a hit to open the at bat, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Shelbyville error.
The Eagles answered with a pair of runs in the top of the second, thanks to three hits and a walk.
Shelbyville (16-10) tacked on a solo score in the top of the fourth with a single, a walk and a "plunk" to jam the sacks before scoring on an at bat ending double play when Williams caught a fly ball threw it to Adams, who relayed it to Keith at third to get the tagged run runner.
Bradley retook the lead in the bottom of the frame when Adams stroked a one-out single, Leek drew a two-out base on balls, before back-to-back RBI singles fro Cassada and Brew.
The Bears added another score in the fifth when Alomar opened the at bat with a single and advanced to second on the throw before Adams delivered a one-out double to bring him around.
The game-winning rally came when Shelbyville drew a four walks, a single and a double to open the top of the sixth before the final run came on a sac fly.
Bradley was able to add another score in the bottom of the inning when Brew singled, swiped second and moved to third and came in to score on the same passed ball.
At that point the umpires enforced the tournament's time limit to bring the contest to a close.
Brew went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and scored twice, while Adams was 2-for-3 with a run and a "ribbie."
