LITTLE ROCK — For the third year in a row, the Bryant Black Sox will represent Arkansas in the Senior American Legion MidSouth Regional Tournament, which will determine an entry into the Legion World Series.
The Sox, who finished as runner-up in the State tourney to Texarkana, are set as the host team. They open the tournament Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m., against the Ottawa Post 60 Arrows, champions of Kansas at UALR’s Gary Hogan Field at Curran-Conway Stadium.
Two years ago, Bryant came within a win of capturing the Regional title but was beaten out by Columbia, Tenn. Last year, the Sox reached the semifinals before losing to Retif Oil of New Orleans, a team that went on to reach the championship game of the World Series before losing the title to Chapin-Newberry, S.C.
Bryant is one of three teams that return to the Regional. Ottawa represents Kansas for the second year in a row and League City Post 554 is back as the Texas champion.
The Pedal Valve Cardinals of LaPlace, La., is a team that was just formed this season and beat out the tough competition for the championship of their state. Missouri’s champion is the Sedalia Travelers. In Oklahoma, the Ada Braves beat out last year’s champion, the Southwest Shockers of Lawton, for the title, while perennial Mississippi powers Pontatoc and Tupelo battled for a bid to the regionals. Last year, Tupelo earned the title. This year, it’s Pontatoc’s Red Sox.
Bryant comes into the tournament with a 26-9-1 record. The Sox had won 9 of their last 10 going into the championship round at State including two of three against Texarkana. But the Razorbacks won twice on July 24 to nab the State crown.
The Black Sox, managed by Darren Hurt with assistance from Jerry East, Ozzie Hurt and Tryce Schalchlin, included (on the State tourney roster) Logan Allen, Beaux Bonvillain, Joey Cates, Jake East, Jordan Gentry, Christian Harp, Boston Heil, Dylan Hurt, Zach Jackson, Austin Kelly, Garrett Misenheimer Hunter Oglesby, Aaron Orender, Matthew Sandidge, Scott Schmidt, Alex Shurtleff and Seth Tucker.
Bryant’s is among a unique few among American Legion teams in that all of the players are from Bryant High School. Most teams include players from a variety of schools in a city or region.
Here are the brackets for the tournament:
2016 AMERICAN LEGION MID-SOUTH REGIONAL TOURNAMENT
At UALR
Wednesday, Aug. 3
Game 1 — LaPlace Pedal Valve Cardinals (Louisiana champions) vs. Sedalia Travelers (Missouri champion), 9:30 a.m.
Game 2 — League City Post 554 (Texas champion) vs. Ada Braves (Oklahoma champion), 12:30 p.m.
Game 3 — Pontotoc Red Sox (Mississippi champion) vs. Texarkana Razorbacks (Arkansas champions), 3:30 p.m.
Game 4 — Ottawa Post 60 Arrows (Kansas champion) vs. Bryant Black Sox (Host), 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 4
Game 5 — Game 1 loser vs. game 3 loser, 9:30 a.m.
Game 6 — Game 2 loser vs. game 4 loser, 12:30 p.m.
Game 7 — Game 1 winner vs. game 3 winner, 3:30 p.m.
Game 8 — Game 2 winner vs. game 4 winner, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 5
Game 9 — Game 6 winner vs. game 7 loser, 12:30 p.m.
Game 10 — Game 5 winner vs. game 8 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 11 — Game 7 winner vs. game 8 winner, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 6
Game 12 — Game 9 winner vs. game 11 loser, 2 p.m.*
Game 13 — Game 10 winner vs. game 11 winner, 5 p.m.*
Sunday, Aug. 7
Game 14 — Game 12 winner vs. game 13 winner, 2 p.m.**
Game 15 — If necessary
* Pairings for Game 12 & 13 will not match previous opponents against each other unless absolutely necessary. (Tournament Director has further instructions).
** If three teams remain after Game 13, the winner of Game 11 automatically draws the Bye for Game 14.
