TEXARKANA — One of the best Senior American Legion baseball teams will not be[more] going to the State Tournament.
That’s because only two teams from each of four Zones receive bids to State and Zone 4 has three of the best teams in the state. In fact, the Bryant Black Sox, Texarkana Razorbacks and Sheridan Yellowjackets finished the regular season in a tie for first place, having each split doubleheaders with the other two. On run differential, Texarkana, which is hosting the Zone 4 tourney, received the top seed with Bryant second and Sheridan third. The top two seeds earned first-round byes.
So Sheridan and the other three teams in the league began play in the Zone Tournament on Friday. The Jackets buried Little Rock Express, 15-1, while Benton McClendon’s outlasted the Little Rock Post 1 Blues, 19-13.
Today, Bryant gets into action against Sheridan at 1 p.m., and Texarkana takes on Benton at 10 a.m. In the loser’s bracket, Little Rock Express will play the loser of the Texarkana-Benton game at 4 and Little Rock Post 1 will take on the loser of the Bryant-Sheridan contest at 7.
Bryant and Texarkana advanced to State last year and wound up playing for the State championship, which the Razorbacks won.
Bryant enters action with a 23-4 mark this season. Texarkana is 25-8 and Sheridan, after its win on Friday, improved to 22-5.
Here are the brackets:
ZONE 4 SENIOR AMERICAN LEGION TOURNAMENT
At Texarkana
Friday, July 20
Game 1 — Benton McClendon’s 19, Little Rock Blues 13
Game 2 — Sheridan 15, Little Rock Express 1
Saturday, July 21
Game 3 — TEXAR vs. Benton McClendon’s, 10 a.m.
Game 4 — Bryant vs. Sheridan, 1 p.m.
Game 5 — Little Rock Express vs. game 3 loser, 4 p.m.
Game 6 — Little Rock Blues vs. Game 4 loser, 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 22
Game 7 — Game 3 winner vs. game 4 winner, 4 p.m. (winners bracket final; winner qualifies for State)
Game 8 — Game 5 winner vs. game 6 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 9 — Game 7 loser vs. game 8 winner, 7 p.m. (winner qualifies for State)
Sunday, July 23
Game 10 — Game 7 winner vs. game 9 winner, 5 p.m.
Game 11 — if necessary, 30 minutes after conclusion of game 10
