The Bradford High softball team shook off a doubleheader sweep to DuBois on Monday by picking up an 8-2 win over Coudersport
The Lady Falcons started the game on a good note. Madyson Dubots-Angood led off with a walk and stole second a few pitches later. Laura Dunn hit a ground ball up the middle to drive in Dubots-Angood for the first run of the day for Coudy. After their first at-bat, the Lady Falcons had a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Owls would retaliate with some offense of their own. Sophie Cornelius laid down a bunt and used her speed to get a single. The next batter up, Daisy Greene hit the ball deep to right field to bring Cornelius in. Despite putting baserunners on second and third, the Lady Falcons defense prevented any more early Lady Owl runs. After one inning the score was tied 1-1.
Coudy was able to keep the ball rolling in the second inning. After two quick outs, Hannah Fleniken got a triple off of a hit to deep center field. She was driven in on the next pitch on a single by Alissa Dunn. Coudy was able to retake a 2-1 lead midway through the second.
Similar to the start of the game, the Lady Owls offense kept up with the Lady Falcons. Adilynn Brown got on base after getting hit by a wild pitch. After tagging up on a pop fly, Brown was in position to score on third base. The ball went past the catcher on a wild pitch and Brown took her opportunity to take home and score for the Lady Owls. After two innings, Bradford was able to tie the game back up 2-2.
“We waited for the right moment,” said Bradford head coach Marty Bechelli. “From there we made something happen instead of waiting for it to happen.”
After keeping each other at bay for almost two innings, the Lady Owls took control of the game at the bottom of the fourth. Alyssa Johnson led off with a triple by hitting the ball into deep right field. Johnson came in after a Kasey Poe bunt. A walk from Brown and a single from Kendyl Cruz put baserunners on first and second for the Lady Owls. Back-to-back singles from Cornelius and Greene drove them both in. Mallory Craig got out on a ground ball, but that was able to drive in another run This scoring outburst put Bradford up 7-2 after four innings.
Despite Coudy loading up the bases in their next at bat, the Lady Owl defense stepped up by getting consecutive outs to prevent the Lady Falcons from cutting into their lead.
After the defense got a crucial stop, their offense continued to build the lead. Poe was hit by a pitch. She stole second a few pitches later. Cornelius hit a ground ball up the middle of the field to bring in Poe. This RBI grew the Lady Owls lead 8-2 after five innings.
“They started to get the ball rolling after getting some key hits. They also made the stops when they needed them and made it hard for us to score to get back in it,” said Coudersport head coach Trevor Saulter.
In Coudy’s final at-bat they were able to put runners in scoring position, but back-to-back ground outs from the Lady Owls infield sealed the 8-2 win.
The Lady Owls were led by Greene who went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and Cornelius who went 3-for-3 with two RBIs. The Lady Falcons were led by Dunn, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
“We are very young,” said Bechelli. “I got many ninth and tenth graders out there competing. We are still looking to see which players thrive at certain positions on the field, but they are starting to come together as a group. I am proud of these kids. “They are young but they play hard.”
AT BRADFORD RHE Coudersport 110 000 0 2 11 0 Bradford 110 510 X 8 11 0
Coudersport:
Fleniken (3 SO, 1 BB) and Dunn
Bradford: Greene (5 SO, 1 BB) and Johnson
