KERSEY — The young men of Bradford Legion baseball have been playing so well lately that the only team that might have a chance to beat them is themselves.
After jumping out to a 14-0 lead, Bradford had to hold off a furious rally from Fox Township, eventually hanging on to win 14-9 in Kersey on Thursday.
The victory moves Bradford’s overall record to 10-1 and a perfect 8-0 in league play.
Coach Brian Fox acknowledged that the big rally was aided largely by a slight loss of focus on his team’s part.
“We got a little too casual,” he said. “We came out hitting the ball well and then I cleared the bench. But it’s just the fact that we went up 14-0 and we went flat. The enthusiasm was gone and the kids just went flat.”
Bradford was anything but flat to start the game, sending 10 men to the plate in the first inning alone. A two-run single by Garren Black — who finished with four RBIs in the game — highlighted the five-run first inning. Black would drive in another run in the second on a groundout to make it 6-0.
Bradford was hardly done at the plate, scoring four runs in both the third and fourth innings.
Danny Manion drove in three of his game-high five RBIs on a bases-clearing double in the third inning. He was soon driven in himself on an RBI double by Black.
Lost amidst all the offense for Bradford was a strong start on the mound by Garret Babcock. Pitching with a big cushion, Babcock allowed just two hits through the first three innings.
But that big lead took some of the edge off of Bradford’s performance. That was clearly evident in the fourth inning, when Fox Township put up a seven-spot aided by five Bradford walks as well as three straight RBI singles.
“This is both times we’ve played this Fox Township teams and we’ve let them back in the game,” coach Fox said. “I’m glad there weren’t more than seven innings in this game, same as the last time we played them.”
Despite that big inning and watching their big lead lessen considerably, Fox sees it as a luxury to not have to worry too much about giving up a big inning when his team is swinging the bat so well.
“We controlled our runs early in the game to put up a 14-0 [score], then they scored seven runs and we still have the cushion there,” he said. “At any time we still had a couple arms that could come in there and stop the bleeding.”
Also contributing at the plate for Bradford were Derek Sunafrank (2-for-3, RBI) and Caleb Nuzzo (two-run single).
Bradford’s pitching trio of Babcock, Sunafrank and Tyler Gigliotti combined to strike out eight batters while allowing 10 hits and seven walks.
Fox’s Brandon Sicheri went 4-for-4 with an RBI, while Shane Prince added an RBI double.
Fox used six different pitchers who combined for nine strikeouts, six walks, and 12 hits.
Bradford’s busy schedule continues later today on the road at Ridgway at 6 p.m.
