Some of the best pitching matchups in the country this year figure to take place in Oklahoma. The Sooner State features one of the nation's top players in two-time state player of the year
Dylan Bundy of
Owasso (Okla.).
However he might not even be the best pitcher in his conference.
Archie Bradley of
Broken Arrow (Okla.) is ranked ahead of Bundy in the MaxPreps Top 100 player rankings. Bradley also gets top grades from Baseball America, which rates his curveball and fastball as the best in the country.
"His fastball ranges from 93 to 96 mph with a plus breaking ball and change," said Broken Arrow assistant coach James Ashley. "Last year he struck out 109 batters in 67 innings and carried a 1.46 ERA. He's put himself into position to play baseball for a long time as long as he continues to work hard both on and off the field."
Archie Bradley, Broken Arrow
Photo courtesy of Doug Quinn
Bradley, who is 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, is off to a strong start this season, picking up his third win of the season with a two-hit shutout against Lakeland, one of the top teams in Florida, in the Blue Devil Classic. Bradley struck out 12 in the win and upped Broken Arrow's record to 7-0 on the season. The Tigers are currently ranked No. 7 in the country in the
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Baseball Rankings.
"Our team has a chance to win a state championship and be contenders for a national title," said Bradley. "Our team is tough to beat because we have great team chemistry. We thrive off each other's success."
The Tigers almost got a chance to show just how good they are in the championship game of the Blue Devil Classic Wednesday. However, Broken Arrow fell to Winter Haven in the semifinals 7-3. Winter Haven will take on Owasso, Broken Arrow's Oklahoma rival, in the championship game.
"Owasso is our toughest competition," said Bradley. "When Dylan Bundy throws, we'll have a hard time beating their team. Plus they play so well overall as a team that we'll have to bring our A-game to get it done."
Bradley was not able to play in the loss, or in today's game against
Lake Wales, after being ejected from Tuesday's win over Lakeland after
questioning an umpire's call.
"He was surprised by the umpire's move," Broken Arrow assistant coach Doug Nold told the Broken Arrow Ledger. "He put
his hands in the air because he didn't understand. Archie said 'I
was talking to my catcher.' He felt he hadn't done anything
wrong."
Bradley will be able to return to action when his team returns to Broken Arrow after spring break.
Bradley has spent his summers playing against some of the top competition in the country. Following his freshman and sophomore seasons he played at the Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif., and last year he played for the Dallas D-Bats in the Connie Mack World Series in Farmington, striking out 16 batters and hitting 98 mph with his fastball while pitching on his 18th birthday.
"I was also selected to pitch in the Aflac game in San Diego," said Bradley. "I enjoyed playing against the best players in the country. I had fun getting to know the other players and pitching on a big league mound wasn't too bad either."
Bradley got his start as a freshman on the varsity at Muskogee High School. A quarterback in football, he later transferred to Broken Arrow after his sophomore season and he has starred on both the football field and the baseball diamond for the Tigers. This season he was the 6A District 3 Offensive Player of the Year and he was a member of the Elite 11.
"Archie is a two-sport Division 1 player and signed with the University of Oklahoma," said Ashley. "Players like him only come around every so often. His ability to play two sports at such a high level makes him such a unique player."
Bradley realized at a young age that he might be able to play at the next level.
"My freshman year, when I pitched in the regional tournament, I realized at that moment that if I worked hard enough I had the talent to do something special."
Bradley has received plenty of help to get to this point, working with coaches to fine tune his skills.
"Jay Franklin and Shannon Dobson taught me everything from keeping my composure, focusing and working on the mechanics," said Bradley. "They've emphasized the importance of respecting the game and never wasting a day to get better."
Bradley has put that advice to good use through a daily lifting and running workout along with a strict diet.
"I also work at my pitching mechanics," said Bradley. "I think that my work ethic and my mindset are my best qualities. I try to remember every day that there are thousands of players trying to do what you are doing. You have to ask yourself at the end of each day, 'What did I do to get better?'"
Bradley also gains strength from his volunteer work at school as a peer tutor.
"My favorite class is peer tutoring because I love getting to interact with special needs students," said Bradley. "I feel I make a positive impact on their day and in the end, those students have made me a better person."
While Bradley has signed to play both football and baseball at Oklahoma next season, the Major League Baseball draft in June could change his plans.
"It's exciting having MLB scouts at my games," said Bradley. "It means I'm doing something right and all my hard work has paid off. If I were to be drafted it would be a great honor and I would consider myself very blessed."
