Coming off of a state title in softball, a successful season in baseball and the excitement of a new era on the horizon in track and field, the 2022 springs sports season for Bradford is loaded with high expectations.
BRADFORD BASEBALL:
The Bradford Railroaders return a lot of talent from last year’s team who won 10 of their last 14 games, including a sectional championship. Overall in 2021, Bradford finished 14-10 on the season and 7-4 in the old Cross County Conference under coaches Andy Mead and Derrick Skinner.
In their first season in the newly formed WOAC (Western Ohio Athletic Conference) Bradford has higher expectations in 2022.
“We hope to build upon last year’s competitive season with the leadership of our sole senior and experienced returning letterman,” commented Coach Skinner.
The Railroaders return two first-year league award winners from 2021, senior catcher Keaton Mead and sophomore pitcher and shortstop Tucker Miller. Miller also earned second-team all-area last season as a freshman.
Also returning are Landon Monnin, Hudson Hill, Landon Wills, Dalten Skinner, Brendan Baker, Garrett Trevino, Ben Kitts and Jordan Thacker.
Parker Davidson, Owen Canan and Kamerun Depweg are new members to the roster, which will increase the overall depth for the Railroaders.
With just one senior on the roster in Keaton Mead, the Railroaders feel they can compete at a high level.
“Although we may be considered a younger team with only one senior, the time is now to compete in every game,” said Skinner.
There are no breaks for the Railroaders in the WOAC with the likes of Newton, Arcanum, Tri-Village, Tri-County North, Franklin Monroe, Ansonia, Twin Valley South, Preble Shawnee, National Trail, Dixie and Mississinawa Valley in the mix.
BRADFORD SOFTBALL:
The Bradford softball team is coming off of an historic season where the Lady Railroaders steamrolled through the season by finishing with a 30-2 record and winning a state championship in Division IV.
Gone is one of the most dominant pictures in history, Skipp Miller, who is now playing collegiately at Ohio University. Also gone are Emma Canan, Maggie Manuel, Courtney Monnin and Buzz Brewer.
But Bradford returns the remainder of the roster from a year ago, which coach Shon Shaffer hopes leads to another deep tournament win.
“We have a very strong team, like last year,” said Shaffer, who has led the Bradford program for nearly a decade. “We expect to be playing our best softball when tournament time rolls around. The goal is always the same, to play hard for one another and enjoy the game.”
Returning to lead Bradford are five key seniors; Austy Miller, Alexis Barhorst, Rylee Canan, Zoey Brewer and Nylani Beireis, plus four juniors in Remi Harleman, Izzy Hamilton, Shay Swick and Abby Fike. Also returning is sophomore Alani Canan.
All ten players were key contributors to last year’s state championship team that outscored their opponents 305-11, batted .417 as a team and combined for 380 hits.
BRADFORD TRACK AND FIELD:
There is plenty of excitement with the Bradford track and field program as a new era is on the horizon with the upcoming development of a track and field facility, which is scheduled to begin very soon.
“We are excited to begin working on our own track and field facility beginning this spring or summer,” said Bradford coach Mindy Burgett. “We would like to send a huge “Thank You” to Covington Schools, who has graciously let us use their facilities for the past few years and again this year, while plans for our own are in development.”
While the new facility is being constructed, Burgett and the track program are establishing an identity.
“Bradford has been in a cycle of rebuilding for the last several years and we hope to break out of that in the coming years,” Burgett said. “Our numbers are the highest they have been in a few years. The team consists of mostly underclass, but we are working towards building a team family focused on personal and team growth.”
Last season Bradford had success by sending four athletes to the regional meet in Troy, including returning junior Brick Burgett, who made it to the Regionals Finals in the 800 meter run and the hurdles.
“We hope to send more this season even though we are a young team,” Burgett said. “We’ve gone back to the basics focusing on increasing our fundamental movements patterns that will improve performance and begin to build our program from a few individuals into an effective team able to be competitive in all track and field events.”
And Bradford has then athletes to take the next step as seniors Ryanna Kennedy and Brooklyn Crickmore lead the way in throwing events, while sophomore Mackenzy Hemmelgarn is a talented sprinter.
For the boys, senior Hunter Biddlestone is a talented middle and distance runner, while junior Brick Burgett returns to lead the way in sprints, the 300 meter hurdles, 800, high jump and long jump.
Six sophomore also look for big seasons for the Railroaders; Owen Beachler (Hurdles/H. Jump), Eric Keener (Throws), Peyton Melgarn (Sprints/Long Jump), Xavier Robinson (Throws/Mid Distance) and Zane Jones (Long Jump/Sprints/Throws).