JACKSONVILLE — The Bryant 10-year-old All-Stars will play for the State championship tonight[more] at 6 p.m., after walloping the rival Benton All-Stars, 17-1, on Monday night in the winners bracket final.
Bryant, the lone unbeaten team left in the tournament, would have to be beaten twice tonight to be denied the State title.
The 10-year-old team, coached by Greg Riggs, is 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.
The team scored six runs in the second and third innings to blow the game open after neither team dented the plate in the first. Adams finished with a one-hitter on the mound. He walked three and struck out two and, except for miscues in the first and second, was backed by solid defense.
Sears’ single to center got the second-inning blitz started. Riggs walked then both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Hathcote drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly to center then Riggs scored when Adams’ grounder was booted at first base.
Walks to Curtis and Schroeder loaded the bases for McDonald who ripped a double to center to clear the bags. After a pitching change, Turner singled to right to chase home McDonald and it was 6-0.
Benton answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of an error and a walk with a two-out RBI hit.
Bryant answered with another six spot in the top of the third. This time, Gregory got things started by reaching on an error. Curtis walked and Schroeder’s grounder was misplayed allowing a run to score. McDonald singled up the middle to plate Curtis and, after a passed ball moved runners to second and third, Turner doubled to left to send both home.
Sears singled then stole second then Riggs got a sacrifice bunt down to get Turner home. And when Hathcote’s grounder to short was booted, Sears scored to make it 12-1.
A five-run fourth put the game away. Schroeder singled, McDonald was hit by a pitch then both moved up on a passed ball. A late errant throw on the play allowed both to score.
With one out, Turner got things started again with a single. Allison and Miller followed with base hits with Miller picking up an RBI. Thomisee sliced a liner to right that was misplayed allowing Allison to score. Adams knocked in the final run with a groundout to second.
The 10-year-old Regional Tournament will be in Pampa, Texas, starting July 19.
