Bradley’s blast motivates Moline
Moline senior catcher Kevin Bradley first took an inch from the Rock Island baseball team Saturday.
A little later, Bradley took the baseball a mile.
Well, call it 335 feet instead of a mile, but his fourth-inning grand slam broke open a doubleheader between the Maroons and Rocks at Holmgren Field, leading the way to a 5-2 win.
Riding Bradley’s slam for offensive momentum, Moline scored in each of the first four innings of the second game and went on for a 7-2 second-game win to stay unbeaten in the Western Big 6 title chase at 6-0 (13-4 overall).
“It’s been the biggest (home run). Conference is so important, so it’s great to have it come in this situation, with a close game,” Bradley said. “It was great to put it away, put some pressure on them.”
Before Bradley beat the Rocks (6-8, 3-3 Big 6) with his bat, he was doing it with his defense.
In the third inning, he picked the Rocks’ Brinn Bell off first base. Bell, with good wheels, might have scored on Tyler Allison’s subsequent double and given the Rocks the early lead, making the pickoff in important play.
“It’s instinct over the years,” Bradley said. “You see the guy lean over and you kind of just know when to throw. Mark (Thomas, at first base) made a great tag.”
Finally, in addition to the four first-game RBIs, Bradley scored Thomas with Moline’s fifth run in the second game.
“That’s our No. 8 hitter. It (the grand slam) was huge. You take a 1-0 game and make it 5-0, that makes (first-game Moline starting pitcher Chris Larsen) hard to beat,” Moline coach Derek Lindauer. “He had a good defensive day and a good swing. That’s what you want from a senior.”
Larsen was a bit spotty with his early control, but settled down and got out of each jam until the sixth inning of the first game. Second-game starter Evan Lawrence had no problem finding the zone, retiring 11 of the first 12 RI hitters and allowing just four hits on the day.
“Each week has tested us, and we just want it more and more each week,” Larsen said. “We keep playing harder, getting to earn the goals we have for ourselves.”
The Rocks were outhit 20-13 in the twin bill, but the one big hit the Maroons secured was the biggest difference.
“Moline’s good; they made the plays when they needed to. They got the big hit and we didn’t,” Rocks coach Andy Campbell said. “We just need to understand that we have to compete every pitch, and not back down in any situation.”