Photos courtesy of Paul Dotson
Behind Blaine Sears’ three-hit shutout and a game-breaking five-run fourth, the Bryant All-Stars claimed the 2016 13-year-old Babe Ruth State Tournament championship on Monday night at Bishop Park.
Bryant led just 2-0 going into the fourth but blew the game up on the way to a 12-0 triumph over the Sylvan Hills All-Stars, earning a trip to Regionals at Hugo, Okla., starting July 21.
The Bryant team, coached by Greg Riggs with assistance from Matt Orender and Scott Allison, includes Kannon Allison, Dakota Clay, Joey Jilek, Cooper Kinzler, Cameron McDonald, Dayton Medlock, Justin Orender, Alec Purdom, Ryan Riggs, Blaine Sears, Brandon Thomisee and Joshua Turner.
Bryant went unbeaten through the tournament, outscoring the opposition 53-4 in four games.
Sears walked two, hit two and struck out three in the game. Two of the hits came in the first inning with one away. Sylvan Hills was able to get runners to second and third but could not get them in as Sears induced a comebacker to the mound then a groundout to second.
Bryant took a 2-0 lead in the bottom top of the second inning. Turner walked and McDonald singled to left. Orender got a bunt down but the Sylvan Hills pitcher fielded the ball and fired to third to force out Turner.
Moments later, however, McDonald and Orender worked a double steal and Allison got the first run home with a roller to first. And when Medlock’s grounder to third was misplayed, Orender crossed the plate as well.
Bryant’s fourth-inning outburst began with Allison drawing a walk and Medlock getting drilled on a 2-1 pitch. Sears singled to load the bases. Though Allison was forced out at the plate on Riggs’ grounder to first, a walk to Clay forced in a run then Jilek cracked a drive to left to plate two. Turner worked a walk then McDonald’s single made it 7-0.
Sears worked around a lead-off walk in the bottom of the third. In the home fourth, a hit batsman to lead off the inning was followed by a stolen base and a groundout to the right side that got him to third. But a pop to second resulted in a doubleplay as the runner at third wandered too far off the bag.
Bryant added on in the top of the fifth. Allison, Sears and Riggs each walked. Allison stole home then Sears scored on Clay’s groundout to make it 9-0.
In turn, Sears and his defense set down Sylvan Hills 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning.
Bryant’s sixth, Turner was plunked. He stole second as McDonald walked. A double steal put them on second and third. But they were still there with two out. That’s when Medlock came through with a double to right center to make it 11-0. Sears followed up with a two-bagger to cap the scoring.
Sylvan Hills didn’t go quietly in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases. The inning started with their first hit since the first inning. With one out, a walk put two aboard. A force at second made it a first-and-third situation and when the next batter was hit by an 0-2 delivery, the bases were loaded with the Sylvan Hills clean-up hitter at the plate. But Sears got him to tap back to the mound. A quick throw to the plate ended the game.
