By Madison McEntire

The Bryant 9-year-old All-Star team wrapped up the District Championship with a well-played 6-2 victory over arch rival Benton on Tuesday, June 29, at Ashley Park.

The Bryant team members are Logan Chambers, Logan Grant, Nathan McFarland, Ryan Lessenberry, Cade Dupree, Coby Greiner, Logan Catton, Jake Cowell, Will McEntire, Sawyer Holt, Garett Nguyen, Hunter Mullings, and Chandler Taylor. The team is managed by Michael Catton with assistance from coaches Phillip Dupree and Madison McEntire.

By Martin Couch

On Tuesday night a mere 20 people showed up for a Town Hall meeting regarding the proposed FairPlex in Saline County.

The small group that gathered at the Holiday Inn Express in Bryant were informed about the project which would cost Saline County residents an additional one-cent in sales tax to create.

Back before the baseball season began, Jimi Easterling, the senior quarterback for the Bryant Hornets football team last fall, bought tickets to a Chicago Cubs game at venerable old Wrigley Field for Thursday, July 1. The visiting team was set to be the Cincinnati Reds.

No doubt, Easterling was hoping that Bryant's Travis Wood might be a member of the Reds' pitching staff by this time in the season. Wood nearly made the opening day rotation as the No. 5 starter but was beaten out by Mike Leake, a rookie sensation thus far for the team. Wood was optioned to the Louisville Bats and has been pitching there so far this season. And lately, he's been the best pitcher in the Reds' Minor League system.

Until today.

The Bryant 10-year-old All-Stars rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth then scored five in the top of the eighth to capture the District Tournament championship at Ashley Park on Tuesday night.

Bryant advances to the State Tournament in Monticello starting July 9.

Bryant’s 10-year-old All-Star squad is managed by Bill Kyzer with assistance from Kirk Schmidt and Chris McKinney. Team members are Myers Buck, Luke Curtis, Caleb Dorsey, Brooks Ellis, Dylan Johnson, Hunter Hilson, Preston Kyzer, Blake Pennington, Matthew Sandidge, Scott Schmidt, Larry Thompson and Cooper Wright.

By Rob Patrick

Dylan Cross and Jordan Taylor combined on a five-inning no-hitter to cap off a doubleheader sweep of the Sheridan Yellowjackets and the regular season for the Bryant Black Sox Junior American Legion team.

The 1-0 win came on the heels of a 7-3 victory in the opener as the Sox finished 14-2-1. They’ve won seven in a row and 13 of their last 14 as they enter play in the District Tournament at Sheridan on Monday, July 5.

The season-ending twinbill was added to the schedule late to get some innings for the Bryant pitchers. Not only were Cross and Taylor tough but Landon Pickett and Caleb Milam pitched well in the first game though Pickett had a little trouble getting loose on a mild evening (relative to the recent heat).

The Bryant team includes Landon Abernathy, Logan Allen, Drew Brown, Jake East, Jeffery Hastings, Dylan Hurt, Austin Kelley, Hayden Knowles, Garrett Misenheimer, Aaron Orender, Landon Smith and Diego Vargas. Jerry East is the manager with assistance from Rick Brown and Rusty Misenheimer.

The Cincinnati Reds have optioned rookie right-handed starter Sam LeCure back to Louisville after an ineffective start on Saturday against Cleveland. In six starts, LeCure was 1-4 after being called up to replace the injured Homer Bailey.

This from the Cincinnati Enquirer:

Either Travis Wood or Matt Maloney has to be the guy for Thursday’s start against the Cubs in Wrigley.

HOT SPRINGS — In a rematch with the Benton All-Stars, the Bryant Stars jumped to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and made it hold up for a 6-4 win to capture the championship of the 8-and-under District Tournament Monday night.

Bryant will represent the District at the State tournament at Sherwood starting July 9. The team will play in a tournament at Lakewood this weekend to keep sharp in the meantime.

The Bryant 8’s, managed by Clint Hilson with assistance from Mike Meaders and Bill Drennan, include Cade Drennan,
 Hayden Hilson,
 Colton Kilgore,
 Rhett James, 
Tyler Larue, 
Braydan Lester,
 Trey McKim,
 Jake Meaders,
 Riley Morales, 
Josh Prather,
 Shane Small and 
Gage Stark.

By Rob Patrick

Bryant right-hander Blake Davidson out-dueled Lakeside duo Art Slaton and Ryan Montgomery over five innings as the Black Sox Senior American Legion team edged the AA Rams, 2-1, in an abbreviated contest Monday night at Bryant High School Field.

Brennan Bullock’s two-out, two-run triple in the bottom of the first proved to be the difference for the Sox who improve to 10-9 overall this season. It was the team-high fourth three-bagger for the speedy Bullock.