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 i nthe 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 victory sends Bradley (14-16) into Tuesday's 7 p.m. championship game against the winner of the East Hamilton/Ooltewah loser's bracket final at 5.
The Lady Owls (12-19), which lost to the Bearettes 8-2 in the tournament opener, got a forfeit from Howard Monday after there weren't enough Lady Tigers to field a team after situation at their school.
The win also punches the Bearette ticket to next week's Region 3-4A and a win Tuesday will let them host the event.
East Hamilton (17-10), which edged Bradley on a tie-breaker for the tournament's top seed, opened the scoring with a solo score 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 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, while 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.
Game Summary
District 6-4A Tournament Winner's bracket final
Monday, May 6
at East Hamilton HS
Bradley Central 000 030 0 — 3 4 1
East Hamilton 010 000 1 — 2 8 2
Bailey and Sanders; Woodruff and Apps.
WP: Kaitlyn Bailey. LP: Yulai Woodruff. Records: Bradley Central 14-16; East Hamilton 17-10.
(Contac Joe Cannon at joe.cannon@clevelandbanner.com)