PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Norwich, Conn., champions of the New England Regional Tournament, erupted for seven runs in the second inning today to take control of the third-round pool play game against the Bryant All-Stars, champions of the Southwest Regional, at the 2016 Cal Ripken 10U World Series.
Though Bryant rallied to cut the margin to 8-3, Norwich made it a run-rule win with five more runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Pool play concludes on Tuesday including Bryant’s game against Midwest Plains Regional champion, Mineral Area, Mo. The game was originally set for 7:30 p.m., but after rain postponed last Saturday’s games, the schedule has been revised.
The pool play results will set the seeding for bracket play, which begins on Wednesday.
Bryant’s team, coached by Jeremy Stovall with assistance from Michael Brower and Michael Catton, includes Garrison Blacklaw, Brady Brower, Reid Catton, Clay Crawford, Gage Horn, Grant Johnson Gideon Motes, Justen Myles, Hank Penfield, Karter Ratliff, Caden Stovall and Cason Trickey.
Johnson, Trickey, Horn and Catton accounted for Bryant’s hits in the game.
Bryant scratched out a run in the top of the first to establish a brief lead. Stovall walked, took second on a wild pitch, third on a groundout by Penfield and scored on a groundout by Johnson.
In the bottom of the inning, Norwich’s William Stalzer walked, took second n a passed ball, third on a groundout and scored on a single off the bat of Sean Lengyel.
Horn beat out an infield hit with one out in the top of the second but Bryant was unable to take advantage.
That set up the seven-run outburst by Norwich. An error and a walk set up the inning. Jack Roberts doubled both home. A pair of walks loaded the bases before consecutive hits by Stalzer, Henry Feinstein and a double by Charlie LaFreniere. Anastasios Panagiotidis singled him in to make it 8-1.
Gamely, Bryant answered in the top of the third. With two away, Penfield was struck by a delivery and Johnson singled. When the ball was misplayed in the outfield, Penfield scored and Johnson sprinted all the way to third. Trickey doubled him home and it was 8-3.
But that was all Bryant could get. It stayed 8-3 until Norwich plated five to clinch the win in the bottom of the fifth.
Bryant’s only base-runner over the last two innings was Catton, who singled with one out in the fourth. But Norwich turned a doubleplay to end the inning.
