Photos courtesy of Paul Dotson
The Bryant All-Stars will play for the championship of the 13-year-old Babe Ruth State Tournament tonight at 6 o’clock at Bishop Park, needing one win in two tries after a 10-0 victory over the El Dorado All-Stars on Sunday.
The game was delayed by lightning with Bryant up 4-0 in the fourth inning.
The Bryant team, coached by Greg Riggs with assistance from Matt Orender and Scott Allison, includes Kannon Allison, Dakota Clay, Joey Jilek, Cooper Kinzler, Cameron McDonald, Dayton Medlock, Justin Orender, Alec Purdom, Ryan Riggs, Blaine Sears, Brandon Thomisee and Joshua Turner.
A win tonight and Bryant will advance to the Babe Ruth Regional Tournament in Hugo, Okla., which begins July 21.
Turner pitched the two-hit shutout, walking one and striking out five. El Dorado only managed to get two runners on base in the same inning in the fourth when a lead-off walk, a stolen base and a one-out single had runners at first and third. The second out came on a tap in front of the plate then a pop to first ended the inning.
Bryant took a 1-0 lead in the first when Riggs singled, swiped second and scored on Clay’s base hit to left.
In the third, Bryant added three runs. Medlock walked and stole second, taking third on a single to right by Sears. A passed ball allowed Medlock to score as Sears took second. Riggs then got a bunt down and beat it out for a hit. With Sears at third, Clay picked up another RBI with a grounder to third. Jilek’s groundout brought Riggs home and it was 4-0.
In the fourth, Medlock plugged the gap in right-center for a triple. After Sears walked and stole second, Riggs was struck by a 2-1 pitch to load the bases for Clay who walked on four pitches to force in a run. Jilek followed with a grounder to third but Sears was forced out at the plate.
Bryant made it a run-rule win in the bottom of the fifth. McDonald singled to open the frame. It was the only hit of the inning. Orender walked and, with one out, so did Medlock. McDonald scored on a passed ball as Sears drew a free pass. Orender scored on another passed ball. Medlock sprinted home on a wild pitch as Sears, who had swiped second, took third. Clay walked and stole second then yet another wild pitch brought Sears across the plate. With Clay on third, Jilek worked one more walk. With Turner at the plate, Jilek broke for second and, drawing a throw, it allowed Clay to steal home with the game-ending run.
