AMITE, La. — Turner Seelinger and Connor Martin combined on a three-hit shutout as the South Arkansas State champion Bryant All-Stars opened the Cal Ripken 10-year-old Southwest Regional Tournament with a 2-0 win over Pampa, Texas on Friday.
Bryant scored a run in the first inning and in the last one, the sixth, to supply the winning margin. The Stars are set to return to action in the winners’ bracket on Sunday afternoon against Oak Grove, Miss.
The team, managed by Jason Greiner with assistance from Ryan Martin and Jeremy Morrow, includes Carson Burnett, Gavin Burton, Luke Dreher, Caleb Greiner, Drew Hatman, Martin, Colby Morrow, Cade Parker, Jackson Parker, Seelinger, Hayden Thompson and Logan White.
Seelinger held Pampa without a hit over the first three innings. He walked the lead-off batter in the second and issued a two-out pass in the third. He fanned five.
Bryant’s run came after Jackson Parker walked and Martin singled to center. Seelinger beat out an infield hit. On the throw to first, Parker surprised the Texas defense by rounding third and scoring.
Bryant made a bid to add to the 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth when Seelinger doubled to left and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Burnett got a bunt down on a safety squeeze but Pampa decided to hold Seelinger at third as Burnett reached first. Ultimately, both were stranded.
Pampa came up with its first hit to open the fourth against Martin but the Bryant hurler retired the next three batters.
Neither team could take advantage of singles in the fifth. For Bryant, Morrow led off the top of the inning with a single. Pampa’s came after two were out.
In the top of the sixth, however, Seelinger drew a one-out walk and took second on a wild pitch. A passed ball allowed him to take third as Burnett earned a walk. He swiped second and Pampa chose to hold Seelinger at third when White bunted.
But Cade Parker waited out a walk to force in the second run of the game.
Pampa threatened to rally in the bottom of the inning. Martin and the Bryant defense retired the first two batters but a single to left and a pair of walks — both on 3-2 pitches — followed, loading the bases.
The game ended there, however, as Martin fanned the next batter.
Renee Smith
Great going Bryant. Keep it going!