By Madison McEntire
JACKSONVILLE — Behind a dominating performance by starting pitcher Cade Dupree and a big first inning rally, the Bryant 9-year-old All-Stars posted a 9-1 win against Monticello in their opening game of the 2010 state championship at Jacksonville’s Excell Park on Friday, July 9.
The Bryant team members are Logan Chambers, Logan Grant, Nathan McFarland, Ryan Lessenberry, Cade Dupree, Coby Greiner, Logan Catton, Jake Cowell, Will McEntire, Sawyer Holt, Garett Nguyen, Hunter Mullings, and Chandler Taylor. The team is managed by Michael Catton with assistance from coaches Phillip Dupree and Madison McEntire.
After Dupree retired Monticello in order in the top of the first (including two strikeouts), Bryant struck for the maximum six runs. With one out, Chambers reached on an error. McFarland was up next and fouled off the first five pitches, four of them down the third baseline, before smacking one over the left fielder’s head for a double which scored Chambers. Dupree followed with a single to left field that moved McFarland to third and then he stole second. Greiner’s infield single to the shortstop plated McFarland and advanced Dupree to third.[more]
With Grant at the plate, Greiner swiped second and then Grant singled to left to score Dupree and move Greiner to third base, with Grant advancing to second on the throw. A single to the shortstop by Lessenberry allowed Greiner to score and Grant to take third. Holt was hit by a pitch to load the bases and then Mullings’ grounder to third scored Grant to make the score 6-0.
Dupree cruised through the second and third innings, striking out the final five of the six outs to give him a total of seven strikeouts the first time through the Monticello lineup.
Bryant increased their lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the third. Grant walked and raced all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt by Lessenberry. He later scored on Holt’s groundout to the third baseman.
Monticello got its lone run in the top of the fourth. Dupree retired the first two batters, including his eighth strikeout, before he allowed his first base runner of the game on an infield squibber to the left side of the mound. The Monticello cleanup batter then doubled deep to left center to make it 7-1. Dupree completed the inning by inducing a grounder to second baseman Greiner.
The All-Stars increased their lead to 9-1 with a couple of runs in the bottom of the frame. Catton, Chambers, and McFarland each walked to load the bases with nobody out, with Catton and Chambers eventually coming in to score on wild pitches.
McEntire relieved Dupree in the top of the fifth and retired the three batters he faced, including the final two on strikes, to end the game and give Bryant a run-rule victory.
Bryant resumes its pursuit of the State title when they take on Camden at Excell Park on Saturday, July 10, at 3 p.m.
