A Bryant team of 8-year-olds battled through the Landers Beat The Clock Tournament, against a field of 9-year-old AA teams to finish as runner-up last weekend.
The team, managed by Jeremy Stovall with assistance from Michael Brower, Chad Kemp and Marcus Johnson, led early in the championship game but wound up absorbing a 10-8 loss to the Rawlings Prospects 8’s.
The Bryant team includes Garrison Blacklaw, Brady Brower, Reid Catton, Clay Crawford, Gage Horn, Aiden Hughes, Grant Johnson, Carson Kemp, Gideon Motes, Hank Penfield and Caden Stovall.
In the championship game, Bryant took the lead with four runs in the top of the first. Brower beat out a bunt for a hit and stole his way to third. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Horn.
Johnson’s base hit kept the inning going. Blacklaw singled then Kemp walked to fill the bags. A walk to Stovall forced in the second run then Catton belted a two-run single to make it 4-0.
The Prospects used a pair of walks and a two-out hit to cut the lead in half. In the top of the second, Motes drew a two-out walk and Penfield singled but both were stranded.
Reid Catton
The strike zone proved elusive for Bryant in the second inning and Rawlings took advantage to score seven times, taking a 9-4 lead.
Bryant battled back with three runs in the third. Horn and Johnson led off with singles. Blacklaw picked up an RBI with a groundout to short then Kemp singled in Johnson. He stole his way to third and came home on a two-out single by Catton to make it 9-7.
After the Prospects were retired in order in the bottom of the third, Bryant got a run closer in the top of the fourth. Hughes reached base with a hit and stole his way to third and scored on a wild pitch as Brower were working a two-out walk. Representing the tying run, Brower stole second and third but was stranded as Rawlings got out of the jam.
The Prospects added a run in the bottom of the fourth before time ran out.
Garrison Blacklaw
Grant Johnson
