Austin’s Bradford pitches to a win against her former team
Published 10:11 pm Monday, April 23, 2018
- Avery Thompson takes a swing for the Austin softball team against Kasson-Mantorville in the dome at Wescott Athletic Complex Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Last season Kennedy Bradford was a member of the Kasson-Mantorville softball team, but on Monday she was trying to beat them.
Bradford, who transferred from KM to Austin this year, stepped up her game in the circle and pitched the Packers to an 8-2 win over the KoMets under the dome at Wescott Athletic Complex.
Bradford scattered eight hits, while walking just two and striking out five in the win.
“Her focus was unbelievable,” Austin head coach Al Eckmann said. “If she pitches with that focus all year, she can be dynamite. She was dynamite today and she just wanted it.”
Austin’s Kenendy Bradford pitches against Kasson-Mantorville Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
KM took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Brianna Pierson singled in a run with two outs, but the Packers (6-3 overall) took the lead for good in the top of the third when Hannah McMasters grounded out for an RBI. Jordyn McCormack also scored on the ground-out, hustling all the way from second base to score on the play.
McCormack added a solo homer in the fourth inning to put Austin up 7-1.
From that point on, Bradford was in control against her former teammates.
“It was pretty different [playing against them]. I’ve played with them for years,” Bradford said. “I thought it was a good game to play against them and I thought they played their best too.”
Bradford has been getting to know her teammates this season and she’s starting to feel up to speed with the Packers.
“I’ve been playing with new players, having a new catcher and I’ve been learning new plays too,” Bradford said. “I’ve been getting it down pretty fast.”
Senior Halie Retterath knocked in three runs in the win for the Packers. She said the team wanted to step up their game to help Bradford get a win against the KoMets.
Kasson-Mantorville’s Cateiera Thome slides home safely as Austin’s Jordyn McCormack looks for the ball under the dome at Wescott Athletic Complex Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
“We definitely talked about it. We got down and we focused,” Retterath said. “We were serious today.”
Austin 0 0 2 5 1 0 0 — 8 9 1
KM 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 — 2 8 0
Austin pitching: Kennedy Bradford (W) 7 IP, 8 H, 2 BB, 2 ER, 5 K
Austin hitting: Halie Retterath, 2-for-3, 3 RBIs, 2 R, SB, HBP, BB; Adison Medgaarden, 1-for-3, RBI, BB; Jordyn McCormack, 1-for-1, HR, RBI, 2 R, 2 BBs, HBP; Hannah McMasters, 0-for-3, RBI, BB; Kyra Walters, 2-for-4; Avery Thompson, 1-for-3, R, BB; Jenna Braaten, 1-for-4; Hannah Rasmussen, 0-for-4, R; Hannah Biwer, 1-for-3, 2 R, SB, BB
Austin’s Hannah McMasters takes a swing against Kasson-Mantorville Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com