Bradford run rules MV in sectional victory
By George Starks

BRADFORD - It was once written that one bad apple don’t spoil the whole bunch.

That may be true for fruit but not so in sports.

Tuesday, Mississinawa Valley had one bad inning and it spoiled the whole game with Bradford.

The Lady Hawks and the Lady Railroaders hooked up in their first round sectional game and it was a bad second inning the propelled the Roaders to a 14-3, five inning run rule win over the Hawks.

Bradford sent 14 hitters to the plate, highlighted by three, two run scoring doubles and a bases clearing double, plating nine runs that would eventually send the Hawks home in utter disappointment.

In his final game at the helm for the Hawks, it was an emotional night as Jeff Adams said good-bye to his kids.

“This was a hard way to go out,” said a teary eyed Adams. “This is a great group of girls and my leaving is my choice. With my job and everything, I hate leaving this group of girls. They are great kids and they will have a great season next year.”

On the other side of the field stood a jubilant Shon Shaffer and his Railroaders.

Led by senior Haley Patty in the pitching circle, the Roaders had some bumps on defense but Patty pitched well, allowing three hits while fanning six and walking three.

“She did a really nice job,” said Shaffer. “As you could see, she was getting stronger as the game wore on. She was throwing darts there at the end.”

“It was a great way to get the second season going,” said Shaffer. “The girls played very well.

On offense, the Roaders pounded out 13 hits, seven in the second frame alone.

“It took us a couple of innings to get our timing down,” admitted Shaffer. “Once we started to make contact, we were able to keep things going, even with two out and we scored a lot of runs.”

After both teams went down in order in the first, it was MV that had the first legitimate scoring threat in the second.

With runners on second and third, the Hawks were unable to squeeze a run in with one down.

What the Hawks couldn’t do, the Roaders did do.

With the first two hitter having been retired, it was senior Brooke Dunlevy that got the the train rolling.

Dunlevy ripped a 3-2 single to center, producing the first hit of the game for Bradford.

Sophomore Tori Smith followed with a walk as did Jade Meade.

With the bases juiced, Ciara Broughman, smoked a two run shot to center.

Patty was hit by a pitch before Erika Hart doubled in two, with a solid hit to left.

At that point, the rout was on as Dunlevy would double in three and Brooke Brower two, giving the Roaders a 9-0 advantage.

Mississinawa Valley would counter with three in the third with the aid of a couple of errors and a run scoring single from Casey Hummel.

Bradford would tack on four more in the third and one in the fourth to round out the scoring.

If there was a downside, the Roaders committed three errors, two of which led to MV scores in the second.

With Tri-Village coming in tonight for a second round game, Shaffer knows it’s an area that the Roaders must improve on.

“Errors are like an infection,” said Shaffer. “Once someone gets one, they all get one. We just need a good day of practice and eliminate those hiccups.”

Take away the second inning and the Hawks were right there.

“It happens ya know,” said Adams. “We made a couple of mistakes here and there while they were hitting and that’s what happens. We never quit. We lost three games by one run and we lost to Tri-Village Monday by two runs. These girls have nothing to be ashamed of.”

Tri-Village and Bradford will start at 5 pm tonight at Bradford.

In the first meeting on April 24 at Tri-Village, the Roaders posted a 12-7 Cross County Conference victory.