ARKADELPHIA — Aiden Adams and Josh Turner combined on a two-hit shutout and the Bryant[more] 10-year-old All-Stars scored in every inning Monday as they ousted the Clark County All-Stars, 14-0, and advanced to the championship round of the District Tournament.
Bryant will take on Benton in the title round tonight at 6:30 p.m. On Sunday, Benton edged Bryant, 3-2. Both have qualified to advance to the State Tournament in Jacksonville starting July 5.
The Bryant 10-year-old team is coached by Greg Riggs with assistance from Scott Allison, Scott Curtis and Matt Orender. Players are Aiden Adams, Kannon Allison, Tyler Bates, Clay Curtis, River Gregory, Will Hathcote, Cameron McDonald, Trey Miller, Justin Orender, Ryan Riggs, Austin Schroeder, Blaine Sears, Brandon Thomisee and Josh Turner.
Working the first three innings on the mound, Adams pitched out of a jam in the first when Clark County’s lead-off hitter reached on a two-base error and the next batter was hit by a pitch. The duo worked a double steal to move up to second and third but Adams proceeded to strike out the side to keep them there.
He worked a 1-2-3 second with another strikeout then gave up a pair of one-out singles in the third. But the lead runner was picked off by Riggs, the Bryant catcher, and the team worked a rundown to record the out. A grounder to Schroeder at short ended the inning.
Turner closed out the win by retiring the side in order in the fourth, fanning two.
A five-run first got the Bryant offense off and running. McDonald walked, stole second, advanced to third when Riggs singled. A passed ball got McDonald home with the game’s first run.
Orender walked and swiped second before Turner singled in a run. A one0out single by Sears made it 3-0. A wild pitch allowed Turner to score and, with Sears at third, Curtis came through with a two-out, two-strike single to left to cap the inning.
In the second, McDonald drew another lead-off walk and stole second. He advanced on Riggs’ tap to the pitcher and scored when Orender cracked a single. A stolen base and a wild pitch got Orender to third and, after Turner walked and stole second, Adams picked up the RBI with a groundout. And, after Sears was hit by a pitch and stole second, a passed ball allowed Turner to score to make it 9-0.
Bryant tacked on a run in the third on a single by Schroeder that was misplayed in the outfield. He wound up at third and, moments later, stole home.
Completing the rout, Bryant scored five more in the fourth. Allison earned a one-out walk and, with two down, Thomisee reached on an error that sent Allison to third. Thomisee stole second and Miller was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Allison scored when Schroeder reached on an error then McDonald plugged the gap in right-center for a bases-clearing triple. Gregory singled him home to wrap up the scoring.
