BAY CITY, Texas — The 13-year-old Babe Ruth champions of east Texas, Wharton, Texas, received a rude greeting to[more] the Southwest Regional Tournament on Friday, courtesy of the South Arkansas champions from Bryant.
Right-hander Dylan Hurt allowed only a bunt single in the bottom of the second inning followed by a hit batsman while shutting out Wharton over five innings in a 21-0 romp in which Bryant batters roughed up four different pitchers. Bryant scored six in the third, four in the fifth and eight in the fifth to blow open a 3-0 game.
Bryant was set to play again Saturday at 10 a.m., against the winner of the first-round game between Tri County, Texas and Siloam Springs, Ark., which was played Friday morning.
The Bryant team is managed by Jerry East with assistance from Rick Brown and Randy Kelly. The team includes Logan Allen, Drew Brown, Cameron Coleman, Jake East, Jeffery Hastings, Dylan Hurt, Austin Kelly, Hayden Knowles, Garrett Misenheimer, Aaron Orender, Kyle Sahr, Alex Shurtleff, Diego Vargas.
The offensive blitz for Bryant was highlighted by Kelly’s third-inning grand slam. Hurt helped his own cause with three hits. Shurtleff, Misenheimer, Kelly, and Orender each had two hits.
The Stars were kept off the board in the first inning but, in the second, Kelly walked, stole second and scored on a single by Hastings. Orender doubled to make it 2-0 then, after moving up on a sacrifice by Allen, scored on a wild pitch.
The third-inning eruption commenced with Hurt’s second single. Shurtleff drew a four-pitch walk then Misenheimer drew a pass as well, filling the bases for Kelly, who belted a 2-2 pitch over the boards in center.
The scoring continued after two were out and Allen cracked a single to left. He stole second and scored on a base hit by Coleman. After he swiped second, he scored on East’s base hit to center to make it 9-0.
The onslaught commenced in the fourth when Shurtleff singled to left. He stole second then raced home on Misenheimer’s triple. Kelly singled and, after a walk to Hastings and a double steal, Orender smacked his second double to knock home both, making it 13-0.
The first of Hurt’s two hits in the fifth, opened the inning. Shurtleff walked and Misenheimer singled. With one down, Hastings and Brown rapped base hits. Allen and Sehr drew walks and East lined a single up the middle. A run scored when Hurt grounded into a force at second then Shurtleff singled to load the bags again. A walk to Misenheimer forced in a run then Kelly was struck by an 0-2 pitch to force in the final tally.
Hurt struck out four without a walk. The Texas team only managed to get two balls out of the infield, both on flyballs to right that were caught.
