BENTON — Pitchers Jake Pinson and Jake Roedel combined with a solid defensive effort as the Bryant 12-and-under All-Stars eliminated the North Garland County All-Stars, 11-2, at District Tournament play for 46/60 field teams.
Bryant advances to play a second survival game today at 4 p.m., against Pine Bluff North.
The team includes Beaux Bonvillain, Zach Chambers, Daniel Darbonne, Ethan Cozzens, Noah Easterling, Austin Hooper, Jared Martinez, Jared Morales, Jake Pinson, Jake Roedel, Joseph Small and Logan Valestin. The team is managed by Rob Roedel with assistance from Jamie Easterling and Alton Darbonne.[more]
“Our team played flawlessly,” acknowledged Coach Roedel. “Great defense and great pitching.”
The game was tight early as both teams scored a run in the first. In the top of the inning, Pinson had retired the first two before issuing a walk. A pair of hits followed to chase the run around to the plate. But, with runners at first and third, Pinson ended the inning with his second strikeout.
It was the first of four in a row and six altogether that he struck out before Roedel relieved with two out in the third.
Bryant tied it in the bottom of the inning when, with two down, Roedel and Easterling singled. Small and Chambers followed with walks.
So it was still 1-1 going into the top of the third. A pair of walks around the first two outs had North Garland threatening. Roedel relieved an a hit loaded the bases before he got the next batter to bounce out to Morales for a force at second to end the threat.
And Bryant responded by breaking the game open with six in the bottom of the inning. Singles by Roedel and Easterling again revved things up before Small smacked a double to snap the tie. Chambers and Hooper worked for walks and North Garland made a pitching change. The new hurler retired the first two he faced before, a strike away from the end of the inning, Darbonne delivered a clutch double to make it a big inning. Morales followed with another double to make it 7-1.
North Garland went down 1-2-3 in the fourth including two on strikes.
In the fifth, a pair of hits produced a second North Garland run but, with a runner at second and one out, Roedel got the clean-up hitter to bounce out to Morales then fanned the No. 5 man.
Bryant put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fifth. Walks to Cozzens, Bonvillain and Martinez loaded the bases for Darbonne, who again belted a two-strike pitch for a two-base hit.
Morales got down a sacrifice bunt then Roedel walked to set the table for Easterling. He to drilled a double. Small’s hit made it 11-2.
In the top of the sixth, the first two North Garland batters bounced out to second and, after a walk, Roedel ended the game with his fifth strikeout.
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