By Kirk Stewart
Bryant baseball is in full tilt at Ashley Park. Many games are being played and just as many young stars are being developed. One example of a thriller this past week was between two Cal Ripken league teams. Cal Ripken teams are ages 10-12.
In a AAA matchup, Price Financial took on Next Level.The first three innings were pitched by Next Level’s Austin Green.
After a scoreless first inning, Next Level allowed two runs in the second inning, creating a 2-0 deficit. They quickly tied the score in the third that started with a single to right center by Tre' Davis who added three stolen bases.
Andrew Kincaid came in and pitched the next three innings for Next Level taking it to a 3-3 tie after six innings.[more]
In the top of the seventh, a lead-off walk to Walker Creighton resulted in a run when a passed ball allowed him to come home. Logan Allen added a hit followed by a walk to Green led to Bailey Bowers’ two-run double to left center. Kincaid moved Bowers to third on an infield hit and Caleb McElyea drove him home with a single.
Price opened its scoring with walks drawn by John Winn and Garrett Misenheimer. After Winn had stolen home, Misenheimer was surprised by a throw to third by Bowers, the Next Level catcher, that resulted in a throw back from third baseman McElyea that retired the base runner.
After Brandon Carter and Chris Baldwin drew walks, Carter scored on a fielder's choice.The third inning again started offensively for Price with Winn drawing the walk and Misenheimer hitting a single to right field.
Green finished the inning though with three straight strikeouts leaving the pitching role with a total of four strikeouts and six walks.
The only other run came for Price in the bottom of the seventh as Winn hit a blooper down the right field line. With the defense shifted Winn was able to use his speed to leg out a double. He stole third then scored on another single by Misenheimer to right field.
Kincaid struck out five and walked three, and was backed by a solid defense that culminated in a routine 6-3 infield grounder with Green throwing to first baseman Jake Scoggins where he stretched to make the final out.
In the end, it was Next Level 7, Price Financial 4.
Price's starting line-up included Jared Morales in center, Blake Patterson at short, Jamie Jamison on the mound, Winn at first, Misenheimer at second, Carter behind the plate, Baldwin in left, Austin Fason in right, Johnathan Long at third with Kade Endl in reserve.
Next Level's starting line-up included Logan Allen at second, Green on the mound, Bowers behind the plate, Kincaid at short, McElyea at third, Alex Summerlin in right, Scoggins at first, Davis in center, Walker Creighton in left with Jake Pinson in reserve.
“I am really proud of how hard they are working and how well they are working as a team right now,” said coach Stephen Kincaid of his Next Level squad. “We'll see after the lay-off with all of the rain how they start up again but, for now, they are really playing their positions well.”
Price Financial coach Rusty Misenheimer added of his squad, “Jamie Jamison and Blake Patterson have been pitching well and John Winn is one of the fastest kids I've seen in a long time. Garrett Misenheimer is hitting the baseball as well as I've seen and so is Blake Patterson.”
Thanks to Stephen Kincaid for the game update.
BryantDaily.com encourages all youth baseball and softball teams to submit any team summaries – even if it’s just a team picture and its roster – to kirk@bryantdaily.com.
