More food than ever was available for the crowd of about 650 people that turned out for Bryant’s 11th annual Taste of Bryant Tuesday evening at Bryant High School. A record 29 vendors served food and drink.

“Many people tell us how much they enjoy the event and thank us for hosting it. The best thanks they can give is to frequent our local restaurant and obtain their refreshment from those who participate,” noted Chairperson Beth Smith of Heartland Bank.

In an effort to enhance emergency and cardiac services for the community, the Saline Memorial Health Foundation has teamed up with First Security Bank to host its sixth annual Swing Fore Saline Golf Tournament on Friday, September 11, at Hurricane Golf and Country Club in Bryant. Tournament proceeds will be used to purchase new cardiac monitors for the SMH Ambulance service that responds to the emergency needs of Saline County.

With the approach of the Babe Ruth Southwest Regional Tournament for 14-year-olds, BryantDaily.com offers a chance to get to know the players on the host team which recently captured a State championship.

Evan Ethridge

Date of birth: Sept. 30, 1994

Parents’ names: Tony and Mary Jon Ethridge

Siblings’ names and ages: none

Favorite subject in school: Science

Favorite spare time activity: X-Box

Favorite food: BBQ wings

Favorite music artist or group: Set Your Goals & Li’l Wayne

Favorite movie: The Rookie

Favorite TV Show: Baseball Tonight

Favorite pro baseball team: Texas Rangers

Favorite pro baseball player: Josh Hamilton

Favorite thing about baseball: Having fun with the people I love

Position: Utility

What’s your approach at the plate? To get the ball in play

What’s your approach in the field (or on the mound, if applicable)? To expect the ball any time

Individually, what about your game are you most confident about? Being able to play multiple positions decently

What do you work hardest to improve? To be confident with my game and not give up on myself

The Bryant All-Stars will win the Regional tournament because: We work as a team and never give up

By Rob Patrick

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas baseball history was made on Tuesday, July 21, at DeJanis Memorial Field in Vince DeSalvo Stadium, Burns Park. Not only did the last two most recent State champions meet for the 2009 title but both teams included players sporting American Legion World Series patches.

It's a testament to the programs that have developed in Bryant (with all Bryant players) and Jonesboro (with players from Valley View, Nettleton and Jonesboro). 

But only one will get a chance at a return trip. 

The Jonesboro Ricemen, on the strength of a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning by Kameron Walker, and no-hit shutout relief over the final four innings by Aaron Thomas and Dustin Jones, have repeated as Senior American Legion State champs with an 8-6 win over Bryant's Black Sox.

2009 Senior American Legion State Tournament

At DeSalvo Stadium, Burns Park, North Little Rock

Friday, July 24

Game 1 — Texarkana (Zone 4 runner-up) 7, Fayetteville (Zone 1 winner) 2

Game 2 — Bryant (Zone 4 winner) 16, Paragould 5 (Zone 2 runner-up)

Game 3 — Jonesboro (Zone 2 winner) 8, Cabot (Zone 3 runner-up) 3

Game 4 — Fort Smith (Zone 1 runner-up) 8, North Little Rock (Zone 3 winner) 1

With the approach of the Babe Ruth Southwest Regional Tournament for 14-year-olds, BryantDaily.com offers a chance to get to know the players on the host team which recently captured a State championship.

Josh Davis

Date of birth: Feb. 23, 1995

Parents’ names: Eddie Davis

Siblings’ names and ages: Christina Davis, 16; Danielle Davis, 10

Favorite subject in school: History

Favorite spare time activity: Baseball

Favorite food: Steak

Favorite music artist or group: Green Day

Favorite movie: The Longest Yard

Favorite TV Show: Sportscenter

Favorite pro baseball team: St. Louis Cardinals

Favorite pro baseball player: Albert Pujols

Favorite thing about baseball: Catching

Position: Catcher

What’s your approach at the plate? Just put the ball in play

What’s your approach in the field (or on the mound, if applicable)? Just try your best.

Individually, what about your game are you most confident about? My catching

What do you work hardest to improve? My hitting

The Bryant All-Stars will win the Regional tournament because: We work the hardest, practice the most, and have the best three coaches

By Rob Patrick

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Ah, the dreaded Game 13.

For some reason, American Legion baseball still uses an old eight-team College World Series bracket for its post-season tournaments, from District through State, every Regional, as well as the World Series.

It's so archaic that they don't even use it at the College World Series anymore. And, when it was put in use, it was basically contrived by the NCAA to suit television, which, at the time, had pretty much a love-hate relationship with college baseball anyway. The idea was to set up the brackets so that television could count on there being one final championship game, trying to avoid the "if" game doubleheader.

EL DORADO — The Bryant 6-year-old All-Stars reached the championship of the Regional Tournament here on Sunday, July 26, having gone undefeated through the State tourney and the Regional to that point. That included a 4-3 win over Cabot in the semifinals earlier in the day.

But, in the final, they ran into the Mississippi Bandits who built a 6-1 lead after two innings then held on for a 9-6 victory to capture the title.

The State champion and Regional runner-up Bryant 6 year old All-Stars, coached by Matt Orender with assistance from Patrick Schroeder and Jimmy Pennington, include Luke Bessire, Clay Curtis, Cooper Davis, Josh Day, Peyton Dillon, Gavin Glasgow, Austin Ledbetter, Jagger Littleton, Justin Orender, Brett Pennington, Austin Schroeder, and Blaine Sears.