BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. — A six-run third inning put the Bryant All-Stars in command as they opened play in the 2016 Cal Ripken 7U Southwest Regional Tournament on Thursday with an 11-4 win over the George County, Miss., All-Stars.
Bryant was set to continue in pool play on Friday against Daphne, Ala., and East Felicia, La.
The Bryant team, coached by Chris Pringle, includes Blake Brower, Cannon Chalmers, Carson Dozier, Jake Elliott, Cooper Hatman, Lyndon Johnson, Hunter Markham, Reid Mitchell, Paxton Pringle, Max Rauth, Jaxon Riggs, Drew Tate-Lee and Jackson Trusty.
Bryant took a 1-0 lead right away. Two-out singles by Riggs, Mitchell and Hatman did the trick.
George County tied it in the bottom of the inning. A potential second run was thrown out at the plate.
In the top of the second, Dozier, Johnson and Tate-Lee ripped consecutive hits to snap the tie. After runners moved to second and third on Trusty’s grounder to second, Chalmers singled in a run, taking second on a late throw to the plate.
With two down, Pringle lined a single to center, knocking home a pair to make it 5-1.
The Mississippi team was retired in order in the bottom of the inning and Bryant’s max inning began in the top of the third with hits from Brower, Riggs and Mitchell to plate a run. Hatman’s single loaded the bases and, with one out, Dozier doubled to clear the bases.
Johnson doubled then followed Dozier home on a two-bagger by Tate-Lee.
George County rallied for three runs in the home third but stranded a runner at third. After two were out in the fifth, a pair of singles produced a scoring opportunity but a grounder into a force at second to end the game.
