The Bryant 8-year-old All-Stars posted two more victories Sunday afternoon to advance to the finals of the winners bracket in the state tournament.
In the first game, they jumped on Marion early with four runs in the first inning on RBI-singles from Nathan McFarland and Will McEntire, a ground out from Logan Grant and a single by Garett Nguyen. In the second, they plated two more as Logan Catton scored on a single by Sawyer Holt, who later trotted home on a base hit by Triston Day. After adding two more in the third, Bryant capped their 11-1 win with three more runs as Catton, Ryan Lessenberry, and Day all reached base and scored.[more]
Next up was the Sylvan Hills 7-year-old All-Star team. Bryant overcame uncharacteristically poor defense by hammering the baseball to post a 17-5 win. After allowing a run in the top of the first to trail for the first time in the tournament, Bryant cranked out six runs in the bottom of the frame. Triston Day, who is 13 for 14 at the plate in the tourney so far, started the barrage with a single as the first six batters in the lineup all reached base safely and came around to score.
After Sylvan Hills plated three in the second to get within 6-4, Bryant responded with five more runs, all coming with two outs, with the key plays being made by Day who singled home Catton, Logan Chambers who doubled in Lessenberry and Day, and McFarland who singled to score Chambers.
After Sylvan Hills scored one in the top of the third, the All-Stars struck for six more with Chambers providing the big blow by singling home Holt and Day and later scoring himself. For the game, Chambers cracked two singles and a double, while driving in five of his teammates and scoring three times.
On Tuesday, July 14, Bryant takes on Hamburg, a team that beat them 8-3 in a Father's Day tournament in Sherwood back on June 20. Game time is 6 p.m.
