Helyer, Bradford lead TD’s late comeback charge

The Dalles senior Maddy Bradford hit the game-tying home run and Grace Helyer followed with a walk-off round tripper in the bottom of the seventh inning to vault the Riverhawks to an 8-7 softball victory over 6A Roosevelt Monday at 16th Street Ballpark in The Dalles.

One key component to Monday’s win was TD’s ability to overcome through adversity.

“The win let our team unload the pressure and realize that if we play as good as we did last night, minus a couple of errors, that we have a good chance this year,” Helyer said.

TD scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to lead 6-4, but the Roughriders responded with three unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning to go ahead, 7-6.

Needing three outs to slam down a win, reigning Portland Interscholastic League Pitcher of the Year, Grace Ferres, had to contend with the middle of the Riverhawk batting order.

Bradford got the fireworks started with a solo shot to right field on a 2-2 pitch to even the score at 7-apiece.

One out later, Helyer hammered Ferres’ 2-1 offering 225-feet, well over the left field fence, to give TD its dramatic home-opening triumph.

Going into her at-bat, Helyer said the goal was to reach safely in order to keep the rally going.

The home run was just icing on the cake.

“It was definitely a great game and an even better way to start off our season,” Helyer said. “During the full seven innings, it was a battle.”

Roosevelt jumped ahead in the first inning on TD starter Sierra Watson with three hits and walk to take a 2-0 lead.

In the home half, Ruthie Ford scored on a wild pitch, Jodi Thomasian scored on an error, and Hannah Wallis worked a bases-loaded walk to score Lori Cimmiyotti to move the Hawks in front, 3-2.

Roosevelt led 4-3 in the third inning, but The Dalles evened the score at 4-all, as a wild pitch scored Watson from third base.

TD added another run in the fifth frame, and then in the bottom of the sixth inning added an insurance marker to make it 6-4.

Kathryn Bradford led off with an infield single, and then Ford rifled an RBI double to the right centerfield gap, plating Bradford.

“I was pretty happy with the way things went yesterday,” Maddy Bradford said. “We all had first-game jitters. The game was intense and exciting, all at the same time. We made a few hiccups early, but battled back and continued to battle the whole game.”

In the top of the seventh, the Roughriders scored three runs on two hits, two wild pitches, a throwing error and a fielder’s choice.

Bradford escaped any further damage with an inning-ending strikeout.

All told, the senior hurler scattered three hits in her four innings of relief, and walked one, struck out eight and all three runs were unearned.

“Maddy had an awesome night,” said TD head coach Steve Garrett. “Possibly the best pitching performance I have ever witnessed from her. She battled with their toughest hitters and then came through in the clutch with the big bomb to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh.”

Watson allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits in her three innings of action.

Garrett was impressed with how well his group played, especially given that they have been in outside practices five times this spring.

“Overall, we played well, but four errors is not something we want to make a habit of,” the Riverhawk coach said. “I think once we play the defense we are capable of, this team is going to be tough. Pitching is here. Hitting is here. We are looking for a great run.”

TD (1-0 overall record) heads to 6A Beaverton for a game at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

After that game, the Riverhawks host Bend for a doubleheader starting at Noon Saturday.

Bradford has hopes that the offense will build off Monday’s six-hit effort moving forward.

“I was really proud of everyone that we never gave up,” Maddy Bradford added. “We did what we could to get on base and when we were on base, we were aggressive and we continued to score runs. Our offense wasn’t great last night as a whole, but I’m not worried. That was everyone’s first time in a real game situation last night. I think from here on out, our bats will be hot, we have a pretty solid lineup.”