By Rob Patrick
The Bryant 14-year-old All-Stars continued to show that, when their backs are to the wall, they are at their best.
After losing their opening game in the State tournament in Benton, Bryant came all the way back through the losers bracket to win the State title. A few days later, they opened the Southwest Regional Tournament at Bryant High School Field with a 2-0 loss to Nederland, Texas. But they bounced back with two wins on Saturday including a 13-3 victory over a revved up team from Madisonville, La.
The Louisiana Babe Ruth champs saw their hopes for a Regional title and a trip to the World Series end with the loss. Bryant advanced to play Sunday at 7:30 against the loser of the Fort Smith-Nederland game which was set to be played at 2:30.[more]
Bryant’s 14-year-olds, coached by Jimmy Parker with assistance from Tony Ethridge and B.J. Wood, include Zach Cambron, Evan Castleberry, Hayden Daniel, Josh Davis, Evan Etheridge, Tyler Green, Riley Hall, Blain Jackson, Tyler Nelson, Cameron Price, Daniel Richards, Trent Rivers, Tryce Schalchlin, Justin Vincent and Marcus Wilson.
Vincent went the distance on the mound, allowing just three hits. He walked four and struck out four.
Daniel led Bryant with three hits. Wilson had two. Both drove in a pair and Zach Cambron drove in three on a triple that he too scored on when the relay back to the infield was juggled before a late throw home.
Bryant played aggressively on the basepaths, swiping seven bases including three by Wilson who attempted another — a straight steal of home, in fact — but only made it when the Madisonville catcher couldn’t hang onto the ball after the tag.
Bryant took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Daniel beat out a bunt single and stole second. Nelson slapped a single to left then, with Daniel at third, swiped second as well. Wilson singled in the first run with a shot to right and, after he stole, Richards was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Green, who cracked a two-run single to left to make it 3-0.
Vincent worked around a lead-off walk in the bottom of the inning then, in the top of the second, Madisonville’s Zack Tircuit set down Bryant in order for the only time in the game.
But it allowed the Louisiana team to rally in the bottom of the second, stirring the hopes of their fans and players. Chris Nassif was hit by a pitch to start the inning. He advanced to second on a wild pitch then scored on a single to left by Jimmy Montour, who took third on a late throw home. After Vincent got Mike Hess to pop out, Montour advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Hunter Harwell’s grounder to second.
Dylan Perron walked and Kyle Hamer singled to put the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base but Vincent snagged a liner right back at him off Sam Skansi’s bat to end the threat with Bryant still ahead.
And the fourth brought an addition to the lead. Richards walked and Green reached on an error. Price bounced into a force at third but then Cambron ripped a shot to the gap in right-center. Green and Price raced home and Cambron barely hesitated as he rounded third. Parker waved him around and a one-hop throw was high and too late as the lead ballooned to 6-2 in short order.
With two out, Jackson took one for the team and swiped second. Daniel lined a single to left to drive him home. Nelson followed with a sinking liner to short that Madisonville’s Hess came up with on what was ruled a catch despite Parker’s contention that it had been short-hopped.
In turn, Vincent worked through the heart of the Madisonville order in the bottom of the third.
Wilson reached on an error to start the fourth. A balk allowed him to take second then he swiped third. Moments later, he took off for the plate on a steal of home. Tircuit’s pitch was there in time but catcher Liam Wells couldn’t hang onto the ball. Bryant’s lead was 8-2.
Madisonville whittled a run off the margin in the bottom of the fourth when Montour walked and, with one out, Harwell beat out a bunt single. After a passed ball moved the runners to second and third, Perron bounced to Cambron at first who traded the run for the out.
With Harwell at third, Hamer lined to Daniel at second to end the threat.
And Bryant got the five runs needed to make it a run-rule win in the top of the fifth as Hess relieved for Madisonville.
Walks to Cambron and Vincent started the inning. Davis got a sacrifice bunt down and, when a throw to third was wild, Cambron scored. Daniel’s infield hit plated Vincent and Nelson’s sacrifice fly got Davis home. Wilson followed with a drive over the left-fielder’s head for an RBI triple to make it 12-3. Evan Ethridge came into run for him and scored moments later on a wild pitch.
Vincent issued a lead-off walk in the bottom of the inning and, despite a wild pickoff throw that allowed Skansi to take second, he set down the next three in order. He finished it in style, fanning Nassif.
