Ahead of the Bradford softball team’s regular season finale against Smethport Friday night, decisions had to be made.
With the game directly coinciding with the 2022 PIAA District 9 Track and Field Championships at Brookville, the Owls’ top starting pitching option had to make the call to put her glove and cleats down and instead pick up a pair of spikes.
As a result, Bradford head coach Marty Bechelli and his staff put their faith in young pitcher Sophie Cornelius, and she delivered.
Cornelius pitched all five contested innings and held the Lady Hubbers’ offense at bay. She ultimately cleared the path for the Lady Owls’ offense to come alive and impose the 10-run mercy rule.
The Lady Owls defeated the Lady Hubbers, 18-7, at Pitt-Bradford, and Cornelius’s performance was a prime example of the promising turning of the tides within the Bradford softball program.
After spending a majority of the season at the junior varsity level, Cornelius mixed up her pitches, struck out five hitters, walked just two and surrendered seven hits on 89 pitches.
“(Cornelius) pitched really tough and tried to keep things really positive,” Bechelli said. “She was really good in the opportunity that was presented.”
The two teams traded some offensive blows over the first couple innings, leaving the Owls leading 8-6 in the third inning.
The Lady Hubbers’ Hope Peterson led the way on offense, producing two hits, three RBI and scoring once. In the second inning, Peterson drove home Kristen Dunn and scored after stealing second to give Smethport the early lead.
Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the 2nd inning, the Lady Owls unleashed a six-run frame. Alanna Benson doubled to left field, driving home a pair of runs to tie the game before Kelsey Deming singled her home. But, before the inning was over, Maddie Dougherty, Olivia Angell and Payton Morgan each connected on bloop RBI singles to extend the lead to 6-3.
“We strung together a couple of really good hitting pieces to give ourselves the lead,” Bechelli said.
Cornelius held Smethport to one run over the final two innings presenting the opportunity for the Bradford offense to expand the lead.
The Lady Owls scored nine runs over the final two frames to take an 11-run lead and end the game early. Bradford crowded the bases with patience at the plate, drawing 11 walks and striking out just twice as a team, which led to big-time hits with runners in scoring position.
In the 4th, Martin got the ball rolling with a line drive single to center field that plated Leah Lamberson and Cornelius. In the 5th, Dougherty delivered the final blow to put the game out of reach by 11-runs, hitting a popfly single over the second baseman’s head to score Benson.
Angell, Dougherty and Martin highlighted the Lady Owls’ impressive 15-hit night. Hitting cleanup, Angell picked up a game-high three hits to go with two RBI and run scored. Doughtrey and Martin each posted three RBI, two hits and each scored twice.
The Lady Owls finished the regular season 8-12 but took a massive leap forward after winning one game in their last five seasons. And to Bechelli, with just one senior starter set to graduate, he believes the 2022 campaign, led by a crop of young players including Cornelius, can act as their cornerstone for future success.
“Oh my gosh yes, I absolutely believe the future is bright. We only have one graduating senior starter, so I am very excited to see what this team does in the future,” Bechelli said.
Bechelli also credited his coaching staff’s attitude towards the players and strategy as a reason for the monumental turnaround of the program in 2022.
“Katie Green, Sky Poe and Jim Roganbomb, they did an excellent job,” Bechelli said. “They didn’t care how they got it done but got the work done and did a great job.”
