Bradley Central senior Madison Long crouched in the pitcher’s circle as Tori Cagle’s glove found the final softball that was hit during the TSSAA District 6-4A championship game Wednesday night.
The sophomore third baseman stepped on the bag for the last out to seal a 13-6 victory over host East Hamilton, and with that, the Bearettes put an end to a long postseason drought as their unstoppable bats recorded 15 hits — including six for extra bases — to help secure the program’s first district tournament title since 2007.
Miley Broom and Karly Farkas, two more sophomores, sparked the lineup in the fourth inning as each hit a two-run home run, with Broom’s blast off the scoreboard in left field providing Bradley Central’s first lead.
“After losing to East Hamilton 11-2 last night, we just told our girls to not lay down,” Bearettes coach Hallie Geren said. “They came out here today and refused to quit. East Hamilton got ahead early, but we fought and didn’t stop. We never got complacent and continued to hit.
“The girls showed up and showed out. I could not be prouder of how they have composed themselves. They wanted this championship and came hungry. They weren’t satisfied until the finish.”