PEARCY — The Bryant Hornets junior varsity baseball team continues to shine with a 7-0 win[more] over the Lake Hamilton Wolves JV on Tuesday on the heels of an 11-6 win over Sheridan on Thursday, April 26.
The wins improved the team’s unofficial record for the season to 13-1 going into its final contest this Friday against El Dorado.
In the five-inning win over Lake Hamilton, five different pitchers worked an inning, combining for a two-hit shutout. The quintet included Hayden Daniel, Blaine Knight, Devin Dupree, Zach Jackson and Chase Tucker. Together, they fanned eight and walked just one. Knight, Dupree and Tucker each struck out two.
Offensively, the Hornets were paced by Evan Lee and Justin Emmerling, who each had two hits and an RBI. Trey Breeding knocked in two. He and Harrison Dale added to the hit total.
Bryant took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Dale walked, advanced on Lee’s bouncer to third and, after Emmerling singled him to third, scored on a passed ball.
A four-run fourth put the Hornets in control. Dale again was the instigator. He was hit by a pitch with one down and raced to third on a double by Lee. Emmerling flew to left but the ball was misplayed as Dale trotted home to make it 2-0.
Dalton Holt reached on an error and, with two down, Jason Hastings drew a walk to force in a run. Breeding followed with a shot to left for a two-run single to cap off the uprising.
In the fifth, Austin Caldwell walked and Dale singled to set to the table for Lee who ripped an RBI single to right. Emmerling singled in Dale to make it 7-0.
Lake Hamilton never managed more than one base-runner in an inning. Knight worked around a one-out double in the second; Dupree pitched around a two-out walk in the third; and Tucker got past a lead-off single in the fifth.
In the win over Sheridan, Drew Tipton and Hastings each had two hits with Caldwell, Dale, Lee, Holt, Emmerling and Connor Tatum pitching in with a hit apiece.
The Hornets grabbed a 4-0 lead in the opening inning, an outburst ignited by Tipton’s base hit on the second pitch of the game. An errant throw allowed him to take second. After stealing third, Tipton held as Tucker reached on a miscue but scored when Hastings cracked a double.
Tucker would score on a passed ball as Lee drew a walk. Holt reached on a base on balls as well. Nick Kehrees, running for Hastings, was able to sprint home on a passed ball before Emmerling singled to load the bases.
Another pitch got past the Sheridan catcher allowing Lee to score, making it 4-0.
Sheridan countered with a three-run home first but then had not answer for another four-run burst by the Hornets in the top of the second. Caldwell’s single to center started the carousel. He was forced at second on a grounder by Tucker, who then stole his way to third and scored on an infield hit by Hastings. Dale was hit by a pitch and Lee singled to fill the sacks for Holt. His singled drove in a run then Emmerling came through with a sacrifice fly and Tatum’s base hit plated Lee to make it 8-3.
Bryant reached double digits with two more in the third. Tipton, Caldwell and Tucker waited out consecutive walks to load the bases for Hastings who delivered a sacrifice fly. Dale’s single chased in Caldwell.
Tatum reached second on a throwing error with one out in the top of the fourth. He scored on Tipton’s single to right.
Sheridan rallied for three runs in the top of the fourth but could get no closer.
