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Bradford
catcher Brook Dunlevy, looks to put a tag on Riverside’s
Charlene Castle in the top of the sixth of the
Lady Roaders sectional
title game Tuesday. Castle was safe on the play, scoring what would
prove to be the winning
run as Bradford fell to the Pirates 3-2. CNO
Photo by Don Selanders, goroaders.com
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Lady Roaders
fall short in tourney bid
Bradford’s season ends in sectional finals
By George Starks
RUSSIA - Make no mistake about it. Eric McRenyolds and the Bradford
Lady Railroaders was a team that had to be dealt with in 2012 and may
very well be that same kind of team in 2013.
Playing Riverside for the third time in 2012, something had to give.
After splitting two regular season games, the one that mattered most
was played for the sectional title Tuesday. That game was claimed by
Riverside, 3-2.
Even in losing, McRenyolds stayed positive.
“I told my kids to keep their heads up that they had nothing to be
ashamed of,” said the Bradford coach. “They (Riverside) made the plays
when we didn’t. They played their butts off.”
Bradford jumped out early, scoring single runs in the first two
innings. That 2-0 lead held up until the top of the third, when the
Pirates scored two to get things even. The winning run would come in
the top of the sixth.
Riverside third baseman, Charlene Castle, with get the inning started
by reaching on an error. After a sacrifice bunt, and a strikeout,
Taylor Goings would step to the plate. Goings would hit a soft liner to
right that forced Lindsey Rose to play on the bounce.
Rose came up firing in an effort to cut Castle down at the plate,
trying to score from second. The throw to catcher Brooke Dunlevy was
perfect but Castle just got in, under the tag, scoring the game winning
rum for the Pirates.
“Riverside is a good team and they battled back,” McRenyolds said.
“They are solid and they play everybody tough.”
Finishing the season with a record of 18-8, Bradford was fourth in the
Cross County Conference.
“This was the most wins they’ve had in the last two years,” said
McRenyolds pointed out. “We are a team that can beat anyone on any
given day. Today, it wasn’t our day. These girls work hard, even in the
off season. You can’t take anything away from them.”
On the other side of the field, Riverside coach Andy Phelps had nothing
but praise for his kids and Bradford.
“My kids battled hard against a very good Bradford team,” said Phelps.
“This is the third time we’ve played them so we knew each other well.
Bradford is tough.”
In the first three innings, the Roaders pounded out five hits. In the
last four, the bats were silenced.
“My pitcher (Paige Afterholt) really settled in after the first few
innings,” said Phelps. “Once she settles in, she’s tough to hit and get
anything off of.”
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