LITTLE ROCK — Zach Jackson was perfect through four innings and took a no-hitter into the sixth as the Bryant 12-year-old All-Stars began to work through the losers bracket at the 2010 State Tournament at Junior Deputy Park on Sunday.
Bryant took advantage of 11 walks by Camden pitchers and Jordan Gentry smacked a solo homer in the 8-3 victory that set up a 4 p.m. contest with Hot Springs on Monday.
The Bryant (50/70) 12-and-under team is managed by Danny Jackson with assistance from Bryon Glenn and Johnny Alliston. The players are Conner Alliston, Bailey Bowers, Luke Brantley, Chase Brooks, Zach Byars, Conner Chapdelaine, Jordan Gentry, Zach Jackson, Caleb McElyea, Liam Miller, Conner Tatum, Hunter Winkles and Matthew Vangilder.[more]
Jackson struck out six in the first five innings of Sunday’s game. The closest he came to giving up a hit was in the first when, with two out, a drive to right was fielded quickly by Gentry who threw to first to retire the batter.
Camden didn’t manage a base-runner until a lead-off walk in the fifth. By then, Bryant had already accumulated an 8-0 lead.
A force play followed the walk as Alliston at second fielded a grounder and got it to Tatum, the shortstop, for the out. An error followed then a groundout got runners to second and third before Jackson got the final out on strikes to end the threat.
Camden didn’t get a hit until the bottom of the sixth. A walk opened the inning then a single up the middle broke up the no-hitter. Two more hits followed as Camden got its three runs. Byars relieved and got the final two outs.
The Stars had opened up a 3-0 lead in the first. Tatum led off with a walk then, with one out, Jackson reached on an error. Bowers walked to load the bases. With two out, Alliston walked, Byars’ grounder to second was booted, and Brooks walked to bring in the three runs.
Gentry led off the third with his blast to center. Alliston followed with a walk and, after he took second on a wild pitch, he scored on an error. Byars walked, stole second and scored when Brooks’ drive to center was misplayed, making it 6-0.
Miller walked and he and Brooks moved up to second and third on Brantley’s grounder to third but they were eventually stranded.
But Bryant tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth. With one out, Chapdelaine walked and stole second, scoring on Tatum’s single to left. A base hit by Brantley sent Tatum to third. He scored from there on a passed ball. Walks to Jackson and Bowers loaded the bases but Camden got out of the jam to keep it 8-0.
