HARRISON — Eli Berry and the Bryant 9-and-under All-Stars held Madisonville, La., to just one hit as they opened pool play with a 10-0 win in four innings at the 2016 Southwest Regional Tournament on Thursday.
The Bryant 9’s, managed by Brad Chism, include John Thomas Allen, Brayden Beenken, Gavyn Benson, Eli Berry, Carter Brown, Cooper Chism, Avery Heidelberg, Preston Howlett, Landon Jackson, E.J. Keith, Braxton Speer, Aiden Stout and Hudson Thomason.
Berry walked five and struck out seven. Meawhile, Allen led the way at the plate with two hits. Jackson drove in a pair of runs.
Bryant took a 1-0 lead in the first. Allen singled and, though he was forced out on a grounder to second, Speer came through with a two-out double to chase him home.
A four-run second put Bryant in charge. Heidelberg slapped a single to right then Thomason beat out a bunt hit. Jackson got a sacrifice bunt down and when the ball was thrown away, all three raced home.
An infield hit by Berry was followed by a wild pitch that got him to second. A grounder to the right side by Allen allowed him to take third. Benson singled him home and it was 5-0.
The lead grew to run-rule level in the top of the fourth. Jackson singled and took second on a passed ball. He stole third as Brown drew a walk. After a pitching change, Brown stole second and Jackson came in on a passed ball. Berry picked up an RBI when he grounded to first and Brown scored.
Allen got things going again with an infield hit. He stole his way to third and, after Benson walked and swiped second, scored on a wild pitch. Moments later, another wild pitch led Benson in to make it 9-0.
Stout reached on an error and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Speer for the 10th tally.
Madisonville’s lone hit was a one-out single in the bottom of the third. It came after a pair of walks and loaded the bases. But Berry struck out the next batter and got the third out on a pop back to the mound.
A pair of walks started the Louisiana team’s fourth but Berry fanned two more and induced a pop to Keith at first to close out the game.
Bryant was scheduled to play again on Thursday afternoon against Siloam Springs. Pool play concludes on Friday. Bryant takes on Mountain Home at 10:45 a.m.
