SHERIDAN — The Bryant Black Sox surged to a 10-2 lead through three innings and appeared to be on their way to the third round of winners bracket play at the AA American Legion State Tournament on Saturday but the Magnet Cove Black Cats rallied to within 10-9 by the end of the fifth inning then erupted for five in the top of the sixth to gain a 14-10 lead.
Shackled after their three-run third, the Sox threatened in the bottom of the seventh, getting runners to second and third but couldn’t get a run home as Magnet Cove prevailed, knocking the Sox into the losers’ bracket.
Bryant was set to play Malvern in an elimination game later on Saturday but the game was among those that were postponed due to thunderstorms. The two teams are set to meet today at 10 a.m. The survivor will play again this afternoon.
The Black Cats broke out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a pair of walks, an RBI single by Keen Wasson and an error.
The Black Sox countered with a five-run home first. Jacob Coppock got things started with a single. Myers Buck reached on an error then Jeffrey Hasting was struck by a 2-0 pitch. With one down, Diego Vargas delivered a single. Cade Dupree drove in two with a knock but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double.
Still, Kaleb Kling’s drive to center was misplayed as things got revved up again. Kyle Kling singled him in and it was 5-2.
Magnet Cove was set down in order in the top of the second and the Sox picked up where they left off in the bottom of the frame. Buck was struck and Hastings singled. Both moved up a base on Drew Brown’s grounder to second then Vargas came through again with a two-run single.
The third began with the Cats, once again, going down 1-2-3. The Sox continued their barrage, starting with a walk to Kaleb Kling and a double by Kyle Kling. With one out, Coppock chased them both home with a triple. He scored on a two-out double by Hastings to make it 10-2.
Magnet Cove began its comeback with a five-run fourth, sparked by Josh Smeltzer’s lead-off homer. An error, a single, two hit batsmen, a bunt single and a walk provided the impetus for a five-run burst.
Bryant’s fourth began in promising fashion when Vargas reached on a miscue. But he was thrown out trying to steal as Dupree drew a walk. A grounder to short resulted in a force at second then a pop to short ended the inning.
Three hits and a walk contributed to Magnet Cove’s two-run fifth as the Bryant lead shrank to one run.
The Sox were retired in order in the bottom of the fifth and, in turn, Magnet Cove put together the five-run sixth, marked by Smeltzer’s second blast, a three-run shot.
Hastings singled to start Bryant’s sixth but Magnet Cove turned a doubleplay to take the starch out of the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Ethan Bates singled, Smeltzer lined to center then Wasson flew to left with Bates running. A throw back to the infield resulted in an inning-ending doubleplay.
Dupree worked a walk and Kaleb Kling singled to start Bryant’s seventh. With one out, C.J. Wallace sacrificed them to second and third but a grounder to second ended Bryant’s bid at a comeback.
