Photos courtesy of Debra Catton
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Cason Trickey tossed a four-hitter and Gage Horn went 3 for 3 with three runs batted in as the Bryant All-Stars extended their stay at the 2016 Cal Ripken 10U World Series on Wednesday with a 5-2 win over Longwood, Fla., the champions of their state.
It was the second win in a row for Bryant after opening pool play in the Series, 0-3. The victory came in an elimination game in the consolation bracket and set up another such contest on Thursday at 5 p.m., against the host team from Palm Beach Gardens, a rematch of a pool play game in which Palm Beach Gardens outlasted Bryant, 9-5.
Bryant is the champion from the Southwest Regional. Members of the team, which is coached by Jeremy Stovall with assistance from Michael Brower and Michael Catton, include 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.
Bryant jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first and never trailed. Trickey pitched out of a jam in the top of the first after Logan Bevis doubled, Marco Gonzalez walked and both moved up on a passed ball. Trickey got Chance Fitzgerald to ground out to Catton at second to escape.
Longwood starter Jalen Foxx retired the first two in the bottom of the first then Johnson singled to get the uprising started. Trickey slapped a single to right then Blacklaw hit a grounder to short that Longwood could not get an out on. With the bags jammed, Horn cleared them with a double to center.
Neither team could muster much after that until the bottom of the third when Bryant tacked on. Penfield singled and, with two out, Blacklaw lined a single to center to drive him in, making it 4-0.
Longwood managed its two runs in the top of the fourth. Fitzgerald was hit by a pitch and Chance Bachman walked. Each moved up on a passed ball then Tyler Hacker singled in a run and, with one down, Braden Lawson’s base hit made it 4-2.
But Trickey got Andrew White to fly to Stovall in left and Foxx to bounce out to Catton at second to force Longwood to strand runners at first and third.
Bryant added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth. Johnson walked and, with two down, Horn beat out an infield hit. Catton followed with a knock to right field to drive in Johnson, setting the final score.
Trickey had pitched around a lead-off single in the top of the fifth. In the sixth, he closed it out around a two-out walk. White fouled out to Crawford to end the game.
