SHERWOOD — This time, it was the Razorbacks’ turn.
The Bryant 6-year-old all-stars have played the Texarkana Razorbacks in five championship games and a[more] semifinal in tournaments this spring and each has had their share of success against the other. After Bryant won in a semifinal match at the Tournament of Champions in Benton, the two met again for the title at the Fathers Day Tournament in Sylvan Hills and Texarkana cut short Bryant’s sixth-inning rally to prevail 14-12.
To get to the finals, Bryant had dismissed Monticello, 14-5. In pool play, Bryant opened with a 17-11 win over the Sylvan Hills Razorbacks then defeated Monticello 24-3.
Members of the Bryant team include Grant Johnson, Dylan Hunt, CJ Nagle, Carson Kemp, Reid Catton, Caden Stovall, Gavin Hill, Clay Crawford, Aden Palmer, Braxton Speer, and Andrew Schroeder. The team is managed by Patrick Schroeder with assistance from Chad Kemp, Shawn Hill, and Jeremy Stovall.
Texarkana 14, Bryant 12
Bryant led early, taking a 4-3 lead in the first and expanding the margin to 8-3 in the top of the third. But Texarkana scored the maximum of six runs in the bottom of the third to gain the upper hand.
The Razorbacks held Bryant to one run in the fourth and without a run in the fifth as they tacked on. It was 13-9 through four and 14-9 going into the sixth when Bryant used a single by McClellan, a triple by Kemp and back-to-back singles by Crawford and Hill to cut the lead to two. But a force play and a grounder back to the mound got Texarkana off the hook.
Bryant’s first-inning was started by three straight singles from Johnson, Hunt and Nagle ahead of a triple by Catton. Kemp’s base hit made it 4-0.
In the third, Johnson and Nagle singled with two down. Catton ripped a double and, after McClellan singled, Kemp cracked a two-bagger.
The fourth-inning run came on a double by Crawford and a single by Palmer.
Bryant 14, Monticello 5
Bryant reached the maximum of six runs in each of the first two innings then scored twice in the third to make it a run-rule win.
Monticello led 2-0 after the top of the first but Bryant never made an out in the bottom of the inning with Johnson getting them off to a fast start with a home run to left. Hunt singled and Nagle chased him in with a triple. Catton’s double made it 3-0 then McClellan traded places with his teammate with another two-bagger. Singles by Kemp, Stovall and Crawford completed the uprising.
Monticello scratched out two more in the top of the second but again Bryant trumped that with six. This time, Hill was the instigator with a double. Palmer singled and, with two out, Johnson and Hunt cracked base hits. A double by Nagle was followed by a single from Catton and an inning-capping double by McClellan.
Kemp and Stovall each singled in the third. Crawford reached on an error but was forced out at second on Hill’s grounder. Palmer bounced into a force as well as Stovall scored the 14th run.
Bryant 24, Monticello 3
By scoring the maximum in all four innings, Bryant completed pool play in grand fashion. Monticello pushed two runs home in the second and another in the third then failed to score in the fourth.
The six-run first was highlighted by Catton’s RBI double and a bases-clearing triple by Stovall, who then scored on a base hit by Crawford.
In the second, Palmer belted a two-run homer after Hill had singled. Speer singled but was forced at second on Johnson’s tap back to the pitcher. Hunt grounded into a force but then Nagle singled and Catton cracked another two-bagger. A double by McClellan made it 12-0.
The third-inning uprising started with a single by Kemp and a triple by Crawford. Hill and Palmer singled then, with two out, Speer lined a base hit. A double by Johnson and a single by Hunt completed the inning.
Nagle tripled to start the fourth. Catton, McClellan and Kemp each singled. Stovall doubled and, after another single by Crawford, Hill capped things off with a double.
Bryant 17, Sylvan Hills 11
After gaining the upper hand with six runs in the bottom of the first, Bryant scored six more in the third to take control of the game. With Sylvan Hills needing a max inning in the top of the fifth to tie it, Bryant held the Razorbacks scoreless to nail down the win.
Sylvan Hills took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first then Johnson and Hunt got Bryant going with back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Catton doubled to make it 3-2. Singles by Stovall, McClellan and Hill put Bryant ahead before Palmer doubled and Speer singled to make it a six-run inning.
Sylvan Hills could only muster one in the top of the second and Bryant added on three. With one out, Nagle and Johnson belted doubles and Hunt ripped a triple. Kemp singled in Hunt to make it 9-4.
The Razorbacks whittled two runs off the margin in the top of the third only to have Bryant get another six in the bottom of the inning. Consecutive singles by McClellan, Crawford, Hill and Palmer got the inning going. Speer grounded into a force at second but then Schroeder singled. Doubles by Nagle and Johnson made it 15-6.
Sylvan Hills stayed alive with five in the top of the fourth and by holding Bryant to two in the bottom half. Catton tripled to plate Hunt who had singled. Base hits by McClellan, Crawford and Palmer loaded the bases with two out but they were stranded.
Sylvan Hills managed a single and a double to put runners at second and third with two down but Bryant ended it there on a pop to third.
