COLLEGEDALE — Overcoming 11 strikeouts, Bradley Central softball earned its first district championship game and region berth in the last 16 years Monday.
"Our girls showed up and showed out today from top to bottom," proclaimed fourth-year head coach Hallie Geren after the 3-2 win over host East Hamilton in the District 6-4A winner's bracket final.
"Kaitlyn Bailey threw a great game and kept their hitters on their toes. We were disciplined at the plate and it really showed against a great pitcher (Yulai Woodruff) tonight. We are just really proud all the way around."
The last time Bradley made a district final and region event was in 2008, led by power pitcher Leah Banks in her senior season.
However, the host Lady Hurricanes rode the strong arm and bat of junior Yulai Woodruff to bounced back Tuesday with a pair of convincing wins Tuesday to force a second championship game after presstime Wednesday.
Woodruff shutout Ooltewah 8-0 in six innings, before she turned around and not only tossed a four-hitter, plus blasted a pair of three-run homers to down Bradley 11-2 in the first title tilt.
"Regardless of the out come, we are still proud of the way our girls played," declared Coach Geren. "East Hamilton got up on us early but we didn’t quit, we battled back at the plate and ended up scoring soon after.
"East Hamilton just had the hits tonight and we didn’t. Tomorrow (Wednesday) is a new day and a new ball game. I know my girls aren’t done, we are better than yesterday."
While both the Lady Hurricanes (19-10) and Bearettes (14-17) advance to next week's Region 3-4A Tournament, Wednesday's winner will get to host the event, which also including third-ranked Walker Valley and No. 16 Cleveland.
Monday Game
BEARETTES 3
LADY HURRICANES 2
East Hamilton, which edged Bradley on a tie-breaker for the tournament's top seed, opened the scoring with a single run in the bottom of the second inning.
After four scorless frames, Bradley finally got the goose egg off the top of the scoreboard in the fifth.
Coming on a a pinch runner, freshman Landry Johnson was driven by a fielder's choice grounder by junior Lynlee Hodge for the first run.
Sophomore Karly Farkas drove in what turned out to be the game-winning runs with a two-out hit to plate sophomore Alliyssia Herbold, who had walked, and Hodge.
The Lady Hurricanes tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh but could only manage to put one more run on the board.
Joining Farkas with a hit for the victors were junior Tori Cagle, freshman Addi Staton and sophomore Kaylee Callahan, the later two also drew a free pass apiece.
Bailey, a senior, went the distance in the circle for the Bearettes, scattering eight hits and four free passes, while striking out five, forcing the host to leave nine "ducks on the pond."
Woodruff, who struck out 18 Bearettes when they met less than two weeks ago, allowed just four hits, but handed out five walks to go with her 11 Ks.
Senior Henley Apps and freshman Kailyn Mendoza had two hits apiece for East Ham, with the later driving in a run as well. Junior Madilyn Evans drew a walk and plated a teammate.
Tuesday Game
LADY HURRICANES 11
BEARETTES 2
After the teams got base runners on in both halves of the first inning, but couldn't score, East Hamilton (19-10) broke the ice in the top of the second on a RBI-single by Mendoza to plate Alana Johnson, who had opened the at bat with a walk.
The Lady Hurricanes added two runs in the third with Apps stroking a RBI-double to bring in Evans, who drew a free pass and avoided a tag at the plate for the score.
Later in the inning Woodruff reached on an infield hit, swiped second, advanced to third on a fielder's choice before coming home and a Gabby Printup.
Bradley got the goose egg off the bottom of the board when My'Ryah Greenwood opened the bottom of the third with a double, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a squeeze bunt by junior Lynlee Hodge.
After a scoreless fourth frame, East Ham went back to work with a double from Bailey Poschke and a bloop single from Evans before Woodruff "went yard" for the first time in the fifth.
The Lady Hurricanes blew in more four runs in the sixth as Jada Rutley hit a flare for a one-out double. Poschke followed by "walking the line" before a two-out bloop single by Apps drove in Rutley.
With two runners still on base, Woodruff stepped into the box and once again belted a shot over the left field field.
The Bearettes were able to add their second run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth when Tori Cagle drew a one-out walk and moved to third on a double by Farkas, before scoring on a ground out by Presleigh Sanders.
The host picked up their final run in the top of the seventh when a pair of free passes set the table for a two-out, RBI-knock by Rutley.
East Ham collected 11 hits in the victory, half of which went for extra bases.
Along with Woodruff's six RBIs, Apps went 4-for-4 with a pair of "ribbies" and scored twice. Rutley also went 2-for-3, plus drew a walk.
Greenwood had half of Bradley's hits, going 2-for-3 and scoring a run.
