Photos courtesy of Paul Dotson
MEMPHIS — The Memphis Tigers — Cook 18U team broke a 1-1 deadlock in the bottom of the sixth and retired the Bryant Black Sox Senior American Legion team in the top of the seventh to forge a 3-1 victory at The Hagan, the Keith Hagan Memorial All-America Classic on Saturday evening.
The loss was the first for the Black Sox in three pool play games at the Classic. Overall, they fell to 13-3-1 going into a final pool play game on Sunday at 4 p.m., against Renegades Baseball.
Bryant picked up its run in the first when Logan Allen walked then raced to third on an errant pickoff throw. He scored when Dylan Hurt grounded to short.
But that was the only run the Sox would manage. Starting pitcher Jake East made that stand up until the fourth when the Tigers tied it on a pair of doubles.
In the home fifth, Matthew Sandidge singled, took second on a sacrifice bunt by Scott Schmidt then moved to third as Hurt and Austin Kelly drew walks. But a strikeout ended the threat.
It stayed 1-1 until that game-breaking rally in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, a Memphis batter was plunked by a 2-0 pitch. An infield hit and another walk loaded the bases then a double chased both runs in.
Sandidge had two of Bryant’s hits. Aaron Orender had the third one. Memphis pitchers walked seven.
Special thanks to Sandy Orender
