SHERWOOD — The Bryant 7-year-old All-Stars completed pool play in the Sylvan Hills Firecracker[more] Tournament with an 18-1 romp over the Sylvan Hills Grizzlies on Sunday, advancing to bracket play with a semifinal rematch with the Bryant 8’s.
The Bryant 7’s are Logan Owen, Logan Hope, Daniel Taylor, Alex Skelley, Reece Rowland, Mason Lucas, Braxton Fischer, Dylan Stroud, Tucker Dunn, Drake Brown, Matthew Griffe, Chase Small. Joey Small manages the team with assistance from Jonathan Hope and Michael Stroud.
The tournament served as a tune-up for the teams in advance of the Cal Ripken State Tournament for 7-8 year olds starting this Friday at Sherwood.
In the win over the Grizzlies, Bryant scored the maximum of six runs in each of the first two innings then added five in the third to end the game.
Chase Small got the first-inning outburst started with a single. Hope doubled to center and, with one out, Stroud singled in the first run. A base hit by Brown made it 2-0.
Dunn beat out a bunt to load the bases for Lucas who cracked a two-run double. Skelley followed suit with his own two-run double to make it 6-0.
Sylvan Hills picked up its lone run in the top of the second on a single and a triple.
Bryant’s onslaught continued in the bottom of the inning, however. This time, Owen instigated the uprising with a single. Taylor flowed with an infield hit and Rowland spanked an RBI double to right. A sacrifice fly by Fischer made it 8-1.
Small doubled in a run then came home as well when Hope ripped a triple to left. Griffe smacked a liner to left for an RBI double and it was 11-1. Singles by Stroud, Brown and Lucas produced the sixth run.
The Grizzlies were retired in order in the top of the third and the Bryant bats went back to work. Skelley singled, stole second and took third on a groundout by Owen. Taylor and Rowland rapped back-to-back doubles as the lead grew to 14-1. After Fischer singled, Small plated two with a triple and Hope doubled.
Hope held at second when Stroud beat out an infield hit but he scored when Brown capped off the inning with a double.
