Connor Martin allowed one run on four hits and Turner Seelinger drove in two runs with two hits as the Bryant All-Stars closed out their championship run in the South Arkansas State Tournament Tuesday night with a 3-1 win over the Little Rock Junior Deputy All-Stars at Bishop Park.
Bryant will represent the state at the Cal Ripken Regional Tournament in Amite, La., starting July 18.
The team, managed by Jason Greiner with assistance from Ryan Martin and Jeremy Morrow, includes Carson Burnett, Gavin Burton, Luke Dreher, Caleb Greiner, Drew Hatman, Martin, Colby Morrow, Cade Parker, Jackson Parker, Seelinger, Hayden Thompson and Logan White.
Bryant scored single runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings. The lone Little Rock run scored in the bottom of the fourth.
The Junior Deputy team was trying to force a winner take all final but could not get past Bryant, which went unbeaten in the tournament.
Martin walked one and struck out four. The lone Little Rock run came on a home run.
Bryant took the lead for good in the first. Jackson Parker drew a one-out walk and was forced out on a grounder to third by Martin. Seelinger then ripped a single to right and Martin sprinted all the way around to score.
Martin issued a lead-off walk in the bottom of the inning but he induced a pop up and, after the catch, doubled the runner off first.
Thompson singled with one out in the top of the third but was stranded. JD managed a one-out single in the home half of the inning but couldn’t get the runner around.
In the top of the fourth, Martin reached on an error, took second on a passed ball and score on Seelinger’s line-drive single to center.
Bryant threatened to get more when Burnett drew a walk and, with two down, so did Burton. But Junior Deputy got out of the jam.
The home run for Little Rock opened the bottom of the fourth but Martin came back to retire the next three batters to keep it 2-1.
Bryant got the run back in the top of the fifth. Greiner singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, took third on Jackson Parker’s infield hit then scored when Martin singled to center.
Martin pitched around a two-out single in the bottom of the fifth and another two-out knock in the bottom of the sixth to close out the win.
Jgreiner@advancedcabling.com
The Bryant 10 yr old team will be having a fundraiser Carwash this Saturday at the citgo on the corner of Alcoa and Boone from 9-12. Please come out and support our team and help is get to regionals.