SHERWOOD — Battling back through the losers bracket at the 8-year-old State Tournament, the Bryant 7-year-old All-Stars ousted a Lakewood team 14-4 on Sunday advancing to a showdown with the rival Benton 7’s later that evening. Rain forced the suspension of that game. It will be taken up again at 5:45 p.m. today.
The Bryant 7-year-olds, managed by Matt Orender with assistance from Patrick Schroeder, include Luke Bessire, Dakota Clay, Cooper Davis, Noah Davis, Peyton Dillon, Austin Ledbetter, Jaggar Littleton, Justin Orender, Brett Pennington, Austin Schroeder, Lawson Speer and Garrett Wilson.[more]
Lakewood took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of Sunday’s early game but a four-run answer in the bottom of the inning put Bryant in control. After scoring four more in the third, a six-run third put them in position for the victory. Lakewood tried to stay alive in the top of the fourth but two runs was not enough to extend the game.
Lakewood put together four hits to produce the 2-0 lead but, in the bottom of the inning, Bessire singled and stole second ahead of Noah Davis’ RBI double. Ledbetter traded places with his teammate, cracking his own double. Dillon then made it three in a row with a two-bagger that gave Bryant a 3-2 lead. Dillon advanced to third on a groundout by Orender and scored on a bouncer to third by Clay.
An infield hit opened Lakewood’s second but the next batter popped out and the runner at first was caught wandering for a doubleplay. A strikeout ended the frame, setting up Bryant’s four-run second.
Cooper Davis singled to get things started. Schroeder beat out a bunt single then so did Littleton. Pennington bounced back to the pitcher and Davis was forced at the plate. Speer’s hit made it 5-0 but Littleton was retired at third. Hits by Bessire and Davis capped off the inning.
Lakewood managed a pair of hits with two out but couldn’t score in the third. In the bottom of the inning, Bryant scored six times without making an out, reaching the maximum limit.
Ledbetter led off with a single and sprinted home on a triple by Dillon. Orender singled in Dillon and, after swiping second, came home on a double by Clay.
Consecutive hits by Wilson, Cooper Davis, Schroeder and Littleton completed the rout.
