Once again serving as a host site for someone else’s tournament, Bradley Central picked up a victory over crosstown rival Cleveland High Thursday evening.
The Bears got a two-hit shutout pitching performance from junior Ryan Blair to blank the Blue Raiders 7-0 in the Athletic Shop Trojan Classic pool play at the McKenzie Baseball Complex.
The big right-hander improved to 5-0 on the season, striking out a half dozen and walking just two in a complete-game effort.
Meanwhile the Bears combined six hits and nine free passes to plate runs in four different frames for the victory.
After Blair set the visitors down in order in the opening at bat, Bradley (15-10-1) opened the scoring in the bottom of the frame with three of their first four batters stroking hits.
Dylan Johnston (.463 OBP) opened the bottom of the first with a bullet shot that Raider shortstop Robert Parr leapt to try to snag, but it took his glove off, allowing the Bear senior to reach safely.
After moving to second when senior Chase Wiseman (.526) followed with a single to right, Johnston came around with what turned out to be the game-winning run when junior Jacob Fowler (.388) laced a one-out single to center.
Bradley tacked on two more runs in the second when sophomore Baylor Terrell (.417) roped a single, then moved up on a wild pitch and a passed ball, but didn’t score until Hunter Duggan (.474) and Johnston both drew walks and Wiseman was plunked for the first of two times on the night with the sacks jammed.
Senior Robbie Works (.500) pushed his team-leading RBI total to 22 with a groundout to plate Duggan.
The Bears added another run in the in the fourth when Terrell walked, Duggan sacrificed him to second, he stole third and once again had to wait while Johnston walked, Wiseman was hit and Works drew an RBI-base on balls.
Bradley put together a three-run rally in the fifth when junior Jacob Maynard and sophomore Cal Pickel led off with back-to-back singles, but a throwing error allowed Maynard to score and Pickel to move to second.
Terrell then reached for the third straight time in the game, this one on a bunted fielder’s choice that didn’t get Pickel at third. Duggan plated Pickel with a sac fly, while Terrell scored his third run when Wiseman grounded out.
Cleveland’s only hits in the contest came on a single by Jake Moats in the second inning and an infield hit by Reed Allison to lead off the top of the fifth.
The tournament action continues tonight and tomorrow with Bradley battling Covington Christian Academy (Ga.) at 4:30 this afternoon and Knox Gibbs at 6:45.
Cleveland will travel to Harrison to face Chattanooga Central at 4:30 and then return to BCHS for an 8:45 game against Gibbs.
Both teams will be in action Saturday but the time, opponent and location will not be determined until tomorrow.
The two local teams will square off Monday (at Raider Field) and Tuesday (at BCHS) in their District 5-AAA home-and-home series.
Mustangs 10, Lions 0
RED BANK — In their opening round tournament game, Walker Valley pitching completely shut down host Red Bank, not allowing the Lions a hit in a 10-0 victory.
The combined no-hitter saw Tennessee Wesleyan signee Logan Longwith (3-2) go the first four innings, while Drew Lyles and Chris Caffrey came on for a frame each to complete the sterling effort.
The Mustangs improved to 16-7 on the season, racing out of the gate with a four-run first inning, then added solo runs in the next four frames. Walker Valley capped the run-rule win with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning to force the early end to the contest.
Jake Ward and Bobby Towne had a pair of hits each to pace the Mustang offense, while Bradley Smith drove in a pair of teammates.
Caleb Longley was 1-for-1 and scored a pair of runs, while Caffrey stroked a double and plated a teammate as well.
Walker Valley will return to Red Bank this evening for an 8:45 game against Knox Halls and then turn around and face Mount Juliet at 12:30 Saturday in Soddy-Daisy.
BEARS 7, BLUE RAIDERS 0
Cleveland 000 000 0 — 0 2 1
Bradley Central 120 130 x — 7 6 1
WP: Ryan Blair (3-0) 7 IP, 6 Ks, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 ER. LP: Collin Tippett 1.2 IP, 0 K, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 3 ER. RBIs: Chase Wiseman 2, Robbie Works 2, Jacob Fowler, Chandler Duggan (BC). Highlights: Dylan Johnston 1-for-1, 3 BB, r; Wiseman 1-for-2 2 HBP, 2 RBI; Baylor Terrell 1-for-2, BB, 2 SB, 2 r (BC). Records: Cleveland 10-13, 3-5 District 5-AAA; Bradley Central 15-10-1, 4-6 District 5-AAA.
MUSTANGS 10, LIONS 0
Walker Valley 411 112 — 10 7 1
Red Bank 000 000 — 0 0 3
WP: Logan Longwith (3-2). LP: Gage Winton. 2B: Chris Caffrey (WV). Highlights: Bobby Towne 2-for-3, Caleb Longley 1-for-1, 2 r; Bradley Smith 2 RBI; Jake Ward 2-for-2, RBI, r; Caffrey 1-for-4, RBI (WV); Records: Walker Valley 16-7.
