LAKE VILLAGE — Garrett Wilson, with last-inning relief from Will Hathcoate, fired a two-hit shutout and[more] Noah Davis had three hits as the Bryant All-Stars advanced to the championship round of the Cal Ripken 9-and-under South Arkansas State championship with a 12-0 win over the Benton All-Stars on Monday.
The championship is tonight at 5:30 against the survivor of the losers bracket. As the lone remaining unbeaten team, Bryant would have to lose twice to be denied the title.
The Bryant 9-year-old All-Stars are Aidan Adams, Tyler Bates, Dakota Clay, Cooper Davis, Noah Davis, Peyton Dillon, Will Hathcote, Cameron McDonald, Justin Orender, Ryan Riggs, Austin Schroeder, Lawson Speer, Garrett Wilson. They are managed by Matt Orender. He’s assisted by Jeff Clay and Paul Speer.
Bryant built a 6-0 lead through three innings then scored the maximum in the fourth to double the advantage. Benton only threatened in the fourth when a pair of walks and a bunt single loaded the bases before Hathcote got the final out on a fly to McDonald in right.
Wilson issued a one-out walk in the first that was erased on a doubleplay pop to Dillon at third. A two-out single in the second came to nothing as was the case for a one-out walk in the third.
Bryant struck for three runs in the top of the first. Noah Davis and Speer each singled in front of an RBI double by Wilson. Dillon singled in a run and Clay doubled in two.
McDonald walked to start Bryant’s second. He moved up on taps to the mound by Noah Davis and Speer then scored on a single by Wilson.
Despite a pitching change, the Bryant bats continued to produce in the third. Schroeder greeted the new hurler with a single and Clay sacrificed him to second. Cooper Davis walked and, with two down, McDonald and Noah Davis lashed RBI hits.
The game-busting fourth started with a one-out walk to Bates. Schroeder singled then a double steal put Bates in position to score on Clay’s grounder to short. Schroeder then stole home. Riggs beat out an infield hit and Adams walked to set the table for McDonald who belted a drive to center for a two-run triple. And when Noah Davis found the fence in left-center, his triple made it 11-0. Speer singled him in to set the final score.
The 9-year-old Regional tournament is in Vancleave, Miss., starting July 20.
