MOBILE, Ala. — The Bryant 8U All-Stars completed an unbeaten run through pool play and opened bracket play with a 9-3 win over Mountain Home, advancing to the semifinals. But that’s where they ran into the East Central All-Stars from Moss Point, Miss.
East Central forged a 15-4 win to end Bryant’s bid for a championship at the 2016 Cal Ripken 8U Southwest Regional Tournament on Sunday. It also stopped a 19-game winning streak for the Arkansas champions. They finished 21-3 on the season.
The team, coached by Josh Daves, includes Luke Andrews, Jonathan Carter, Cohen Chalmers, Grant Daves, Kolby Duncan, Dante Hernandez, Colt Martin, Dawson Martin, Barrett Royal, Jake Taylor, Chance Thompson and Chase Trimble.
Bryant 10, Walker, La. 6
A six-run fourth erased a 5-4 deficit and sparked the Bryant Stars to victory on Saturday morning. Daves and Andrews each had two hits in the game. Carter drove in three runs.
Walker took the lead in the top of the first with a run then scored two more in the third to make it 3-0.
Bryant got on the board in the home second when Dawson Martin reached on an error. After Hernandez grounded into a force play, Daves beat out an infield hit. When Royal flew to left, Hernandez and Daves tagged up and advanced a base, setting the table for Clark’s two-run double to center.
Walker tacked on two runs in the top of the third to make it 5-2 but back came Bryant. Andrews singled and, though he was forced at second on a grounder to Taylor, Colt Martin came through with a two-out double. Trimble’s pop was misplayed allowing both runners to score, making it 5-4.
Walker couldn’t muster a base-runner in the top of the fourth leading to Bryant’s max-inning. A one-out single by Hernandez got the inning revved up. Daves beat out a bunt for a hit then Royal cracked an RBI double to center. Daves scored when Clark’s grounder to first was booted. Trimble’s grounder to third was misplayed and both Royal and Clark raced home to make it 8-5.
Andrews beat out a bunt single and, with two down, Duncan picked up a base hit to load the bases. Colt Martin hit a grounder to short but it got through and into the gap in left-center to cap the inning.
Walker tried to rally in the top of the sixth but only managed one run on a triple and a pair of singles.
Bryant 9, Mountain Home 3
Bryant built a 6-0 lead in the first three innings. Mountain Home rallied for three in the top of the fifth only to have Bryant get those three back in the bottom of the inning on the way to closing out the victory.
Trimble and Dawson Martin each had three hits. Chalmers added two with three RBIs.
Bryant produced two runs in the bottom of the first. Taylor singled and Duncan reached on an error. Colt Martin bounced into a force at second as Taylor took third. Trimble’s infield hit loaded the bases and Chalmers came through with a two-run single to center.
In the bottom of the second, Royal and Clark belted consecutive doubles to make it 3-0. Andrews beat out an infield hit as Clark held at second. But they both advanced on Hernandez’ grounder. Clark scored when Taylor bounced into a fielder’s choice at third. But when Duncan rapped a single to right, Taylor scored to make it 5-0.
Trimble, Chalmers and Dawson Martin each singled to load the bases in the third. Daves picked up the RBI with a grounder to short that resulted in a force at second.
After Mountain Home broke through in the top of the fifth, Bryant’s answer began with a double by Duncan. Colt Martin singled then Trimble chased both home with a double. Chalmers’ bloop single made it 9-3.
East Central, Miss., 15, Bryant 4
Bryant led 2-0 going into the bottom of the second but the Mississippi team scored four in the second and five in the third. Bryant cut it to 9-4 in the top of the fourth before East Central blew it up with a six-run barrage in the bottom of the fourth.
Dawson Martin had two hits and two RBIs for Bryant.
The initial lead came in the top of the opening inning. Taylor singled and Colt Martin reached on an error. Another error on a ball hit by Chalmers allowed Taylor to score. Dawson Martin singled in the second run.
Bryant’s fourth-inning rally began with Duncan reaching on a misplayed pop. Colt Martin doubled then Trimble came through with a sacrifice fly. Dawson Martin’s single to center made it 9-4.
