Photos courtesy of Paul Dotson
LONOKE — After three lopsided victories at the Cal Ripken 8-and-under State Tournament, the Bryant 8-year-old All-Stars showed they could win the close ones too. On Monday, Bryant outlasted Hamburg 9-7 then edged rival Benton, 5-3, to advance to the championship round. They’ll await the survivor of the losers bracket and will have two chances to win one game for the title on Wednesday.
The Bryant team, coached by Josh Daves, includes Luke Andrews, Jonathan Carter, Cohen Chalmers, Grant Daves, Kolby Duncan, Dante Hernandez, Colt Martin, Dawson Martin, Barrett Royal, Jake Taylor, Chance Thompson and Chase Trimble.
Bryant 5, Benton 3
Bryant snapped a 1-1 tie in the top of the third then scored twice in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. Benton rallied for three in the bottom of the fourth but stranded the potential tying run at first.
An insurance run in the top of the fifth gave Bryant some breathing room. Benton managed only a two-out single in the home fifth and a one-out single in the bottom of the sixth as Bryant’s 5-3 lead held up for the victory.
Colt Martin and Chalmers each had two hits for Bryant. Martin drove in a pair of runs.
A run in the top of the second gave Bryant its initial lead. Royal opened up the inning with a double on a liner to center. Chalmers beat out an infield hit as Royal took third and, with one out, Hernandez grounded into a force at second as Royal came in to score.
Benton used a double, a groundout and a squeeze bunt to tie it in the home second. A pair of singles followed but both runners were stranded.
Grant Daves opened Bryant’s third with a double to right. He advanced to third on Trimble’s grounder to third then scored on Carter’s bouncer to short to make it 2-1.
Despite a one-out error, Benton was unable to counter in the bottom of the third. Bryant added on in the top of the fourth. A one-out single by Taylor got things going. He stole second and, after Duncan singled and took second on the throw that kept Taylor at third, Colt Martin ripped a double to drive them both in.
After Benton cut it to 4-3, Chalmers opened the top of the fifth with an infield hit for Bryant. Though he was caught trying to steal second, Dawson Martin legged out an infield single, taking second on an error. Hernandez got aboard via another miscue as Dawson Martin went to third. After Hernandez stole second, Daves picked up the RBI with a groundout.
Bryant 9, Hamburg 7
Colt Martin went 3 for 3 with a home run, four runs batted in and two runs scored. Dawson Martin added two hits as Bryant built a 9-3 lead then held off Hamburg’s comeback attempts for the victory.
Hamburg grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the first but, in the bottom of the inning, Bryant scored the maximum of six runs to gain the upper hand for good.
Taylor and Duncan singled then Colt Martin hit a liner that sent Hamburg’s outfield chasing. He circled the bases on the heels of Taylor and Duncan, making it 3-2.
Royal’s pop to third was misplayed as the inning continued. Chalmers legged out an infield hit and when the late throw to first got away, they raced to second and third. Dawson Martin’s base hit got Royal home then Hernandez singled in Chalmers.
With Dawson Martin at third and Hernandez at second, Daves ripped a single to center to complete the outburst.
Both teams were stymied in the second. In the third, Hamburg whittled a run off the lead but Bryant put together a three-run uprising to re-extend the advantage.
Duncan reached on an error to start the Bryant third. Colt Martin slapped a single to right and Duncan raced all the way home as the throw from the outfield got away. Martin, who wound up at third, crossed the plate on Royal’s single to left.
Chalmers’ grounder to third was booted and Royal hustled home to make it 9-3. Chalmers wound up at second and tried to score on a single by Dawson Martin but was thrown out at the plate.
Hamburg managed a lead-off single in the top of the fourth but couldn’t take advantage. In turn, Bryant threatened as both Carter and Andrews had singles and Thompson reached on an error but Hamburg escaped further damage.
A two-run rally in the top of the fifth cut into Bryant’s lead. Two more scored in the top of the sixth and Hamburg got the potential tying run to the plate but a strikeout ended the game.
