Photos courtesy of Debra Catton
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Highlighted by a triple play, the Bryant All-Stars earned their first win in pool play at the 2016 Cal Ripken 10U World Series today.
Taking their turn at scoring early and often and, behind two-hit pitching from Reid Catton, Brady Brower and Gage Horn, Bryant’s Stars captured an 8-1 win over the Midwest Plains Regional champion from Mineral Area, Mo., to cap off pool play.
Caden Stovall and Garrison Blacklaw each had two hits with Blacklaw driving in two for Bryant.
Bryant finishes 1-3 in the American Pool of the tournament and will begin play in the consolation bracket on Wednesday at 5 p.m., as the fourth seed from the division. They’ll take on the fifth-seeded team from the National Division, Florida State champion, Longwood.
Bryant’s team, coached by Jeremy Stovall with assistance from Michael Brower and Michael Catton, includes Garrison Blacklaw, Brady Brower, Reid Catton, Clay Crawford, Gage Horn, Grant Johnson Gideon Motes, Justen Myles, Hank Penfield, Karter Ratliff, Caden Stovall and Cason Trickey.
The triple play came in the first inning. Mineral Area had loaded the bases on a pair of errors and a bunt single. Samuel Callaway hit a grounder to Crawford at second who threw to Blacklaw at short for a force. Blacklaw relayed to Motes for the doubleplay as lead runner Casen Murphy scored. And, when the runner at second, Jermiah Cunningham tried to sneak home behind Murphy, Motes whirled and whipped a throw home to Penfield in time for the tag that completed the triple play.
Though the Missouri team got on the board, it wound up being its only run of the game. The bunt single proved to be the lone hit Catton allowed in his four innings of work on the mound.
Bryant was retired in order in the bottom of the first then Catton pitched around another error, a hit batsman and a two-out walk to keep it 1-0.
A five-run uprising in the bottom of the second put Bryant in the drivers’ seat. Trickey’s grounder to short was booted then Blacklaw was struck by a 3-2 pitch. Catton’s bunt back to the pitcher drew an errant throw and not only did Catton reach but Trickey scored to tie the game.
A walk to Motes loaded the bases for Brower, who picked up an RBI with a walk after he’d fallen behind in the count 0-2. Ratliff was plunked with a 3-0 delivery and Bryant was up 3-1.
After a pitching change, Crawford’s grounder to short was kicked. Motes scored and the bags remained full for Stovall who smacked a single to center to make it 5-1.
Catton and the Bryant defense made quick work of Mineral Area in the top of the third and the fourth, setting down seven in a row.
Bryant tacked on in the home third. Blacklaw blooped a single to center and, though he was forced on a grounder to short by Catton, Motes walked and, with two down, a pair of wild pitches brought in the run, making it 6-1.
A two-run fourth capped off the scoring. A one-out infield hit by Stovall and a double to center by Penfield put runners at second and third. Johnson was plunked to load the bags and, with two down, Blacklaw popped a single to shallow center, scoring Stovall and Penfield.
Brower fanned the first batter he faced as he relieved in the top of the fifth. After a double by Jaxon Jones, Garrison Turner popped to Crawford. A walk to Braydon Berry came to naught as Murphy bounced out to second.
Brower struggled with his control in the sixth, walking the first three he faced. Horn relieved and struck out Garrett Mork. The game ended when Garrett Mullins grounded to Blacklaw who started a doubleplay.
