By HUNTER O. LYLE
BRADFORD, PA – Despite having to battle the weather as well as the Lady Wolves, the Bradford softball team’s hot bats and stifling defense earned them their first win of the season, besting Kane 12-2 in five innings.
Through the opening weeks of the season, the Lady Owls had yet to find their footing. Continuously facing prominent opponents, all but one of which were on the road, competitiveness had been elusive thus far, however, with a young team, the silver lining was clear to see.
“We’ve been playing well throughout the season, we just faced some pretty tough teams to begin with,” said head coach Katie Greene. “I was pleased with our performances leading up to today, it’s just been a difficult few games.”
In game No. 5, Bradford was eager to get into the win column. Despite seeing two runners on base through the first three Lady Wolves, Bradford clamped down, leaving both stranded with a strikeout from Daisy Greene in the circle and a play at second that sent Kane back to the dugout. Then, the Lady Owls’ bats came out equally as effective.
Leading off was Addie Brown, who rattled off the first hit of the day with a powerful single through the infield. Ultimately stealing third on subsequent passed balls, Alexis Kicior joined her on base with a well-placed bunt before yet another wild pitch brought in the first run of the day. With no outs, Bella Zandy added to the scoreboard with an RBI-single, a sequence replicated by Samantha Miller two batters later with two outs.
“We’ve been trying to play more aggressively all season,” said Katie Greene. “I think that’s just been our strategy out of the gates.”
Quickly finding themselves down 3-0, Kane’s response was continuously stifled. In both the second and third frames, the Lady Wolves were unable to retaliate, suffering six outs in nine batters.
“Our defense has looked good all year and it’s carried us all year,” said Katie Greene. “Our defense is solid and I think that’s going to be our strength this season.”
Bradford, on the other hand, would not have to be so patient. After failing to find repeat success in their second trip to the plate, their third proved to be the nail in the coffin.
Stepping into the batters’ box for the second time that afternoon, Daisy Greene opened up the action with a rocket to the centerfield wall, granting her real estate on second base. Jackie Sipko soon joined her with a single, followed by another crack shot from Miller which loaded the bases. Over the next four batters, the Lady Owls found ways to bring runners home and reload the diamond. Rory Hollebeke tallied her first RBI and Bradford’s fourth run of the day with a sacrifice grounder before Brown recorded her second hit of the day, a double that scored two.
“(Addie) brings leadership. She brings speed and she’s extremely versatile,” said Katie Greene. “She can play any position any time I need her. I can put her in the outfield, I can put her in the infield. She’s a great all-around player and person.”
With the rain beginning to pound down on Dana Field, the Lady Owls took full advantage of the conditions and the errors it caused in the field. Facing two outs, Bradford maintained runners on base with a mix of hits and walks, ultimately stealing and scoring three more runs on errors and overthrows. They rounded out the frame with one more run, an RBI-single from Miller which put the Lady Owls up 12-0.
Facing the mercy rule already, Kane finally found an answer in the final two frames. With one runner on in the fourth, Kyleigh McGuire drilled a deep shot to center field to bring in Ella Vito. Ultimately being put out through the next three batters, they mustered one last attempt in the fifth. Seeing one runner on second and two outs against them, a hard line drive past third brought the Lady Wolves to the verge of extending the contest. However, Bradford was quick to shut it down, making the decisive and final play to first on a routine fielding from Kicior at short stop.
Miller led the Lady Owls with a perfect day at the plate, ending 3-for-3 with three RBIs and one run. Brown ended 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and two more batted in while Zandy, Greene, Sipko and Kicior all scored once. In the circle Greene also recorded three strikeouts while giving up just three hits.
Recording their first win of the season, the Lady Wolves have virtually no time to take it in. On Saturday morning, they take to the diamond again where they will host Port Allegany at 11 a.m.
“Hopefully we take the momentum from today and keep it going tomorrow and get a quick win,” said Katie Greene.
AT BRADFORD
Kane 000 11 R:2 H:3 E:4
Bradford 309 0X R:12 H:8 E:3
Kane: McGuire (4 SO, 7 BB) and Mix
Bradford: Greene (3 SO, 4 BB) and Sipko
