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For Bradley, It's Quality, Not Quantity

By EDDIE DANIELS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 28, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - This is the level of faith Gators coach Jamie Martin had in pitcher Michelle Bradley this softball season: Instead of allowing her ace to pad her stats against the team's first four opponents, Martin didn't pitch her.

Instead, she gave her extended pitching sessions in practice, then pitched her in the fifth game and gave her an inning in the team's sixth game.

Once Bradley took the pitcher's rubber fulltime, she mowed down 105 batters en route to a 9-3 record. That effort helped Land O' Lakes to an 18-4 record, a Sunshine Athletic Conference title as well as an appearance in the Class 5A region quarterfinals.

It also landed Bradley the Tribune's Pasco County Softball Athlete of the Year award.

"She throws every single day. She's a hard worker," Martin said. "She'll come out here and she'll have at least a solid hour of just throwing. No breaks or anything like that. A solid hour.

"She's gotten smarter this year where in years prior, especially her freshman year, if she was off, she was off the whole game, but she's learned how to fix her mistakes and make adjustments. She's going to be a lot to reckon with."

There were seven games in which Bradley collected nine or more strikeouts. In three consecutive games against Pasco, River Ridge and Mitchell, she answered the challenge collecting 14, 10 and 13 Ks, respectively. The Gators won each of those games.

"Our team, normally we feed off each other," Bradley said. "Everybody fights on our team. They never give up. That's why when girls come into the dugout they're all upset, but they have heart, so it's good."

After the River Ridge contest, Royal Knights coach Ernie Beck said of Bradley's effort: "Effective pitching always takes care of great bats."

As Martin said, Bradley gave opponents plenty to reckon with whether she hurling a pitch toward the plate or taking aim at one with a bat in her hand.

The junior began the season cranking two home runs in her first six games. She turned up the heat, pounding out eight homers in an 11-game segment of the season.

Bradley's season total of 10 homers eclipsed the county record of eight set in 2006 by Mitchell's Olivia Kline.

Of the home runs she's driven beyond the outstretched hands and gloves of an opposing defense, none outdid the other. They all felt good.

"Every time, it's not like it gets old," Bradley said. "It's the same crazy feeling every time."

SOFTBALL FIRST TEAM

Michelle Bradley, Land O' Lakes

Colena Lazar, Pasco

Sarah Simon, River Ridge

Michelle McKonly, River Ridge

Olivia Kline, Mitchell

Jessica Davis, Zephyrhills

Lucy Schneider, Pasco

Alexis AuBuchon, Land O' Lakes