EAGLE PASS, Texas — Hayden Knowles and D.J. McKinney combined on a five-inning no-hitter and[more] Jeffery Hastings blasted a two-run homer as the Bryant All-Stars rolled to an 11-1 win over Cotulla, Texas to open play in the Cal Ripkin 12-year-old Major Southwest Regional Tournament.
With the win this afternoon, Bryant advances to play on Saturday at 4 p.m., against the winner of the this afternoon’s game between Plainview, Texas and Tri-County, Texas.
Members of the Bryant team include Logan Allen, Beaux Bonvillian, Drew Brown, Cameron Coleman, Jake East, Hastings, Dylan Hurt, McKinney, Austin Kelly, Knowles, Preston Kyzer, Garrett Misenheimer, Aaron Orender, Matthew Sandidge and Scott Schmidt. Manager Darren Hurt is assisted by Rick Brown and Randy Kelly.
Over the first three innings, Knowles only allowed one base-runner on a two-out walk in the third. He struck out three of the first five batters he faced. McKinney took over in the fourth and Cotulla managed an unearned run on a walk and a pair of outfield errors. But McKinney fanned the last two of the inning to keep it to that and, after a lead-off walk in the fifth, retired the side with two more strikeouts to close out the game.
Bryant took the lead in the second. Hurt singleds but was forced at second on Kelly’s sacrifice attempt. Kelly, however, stole second and raced home when Kyzer pinned a shot inside the line in left for a double. Schmidt got a sacrifice bunt down then Hastings unloaded on a 2-1 delivery, clearing the fence in left-center to make it 3-0.
The inning continued with a walk to East who swiped second and scored on a single by Allen. After Allen stole second, Misenheimer reached on an error. From third, Allen scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-0.
After batting around in the second, the Stars sent 10 batters to the plate in the third with Hurt getting things started again, reaching on an error. Kelly singled up the middle. When Kyzer pulled a base hit to the left side, the bags were full for Schmidt who chased in two with a hit to left-center. Kyzer went to third on the hit and, moments later, Schmidt stole second. With one out, East drew a walk to load the bases. With two away, Misensheimer fought off a pair of 3-2 pitches to earn an RBI walk.
A pitching change followed but Knowles got two more runs home when his grounder to second drew a wild throw to first, making it 10-0.
Cotulla scored its run in the top of the fourth then held Bryant scorless in the bottom of the inning, but the Stars secured the run-rule win in the fifth when Coleman singled with one out, stole second and raced home on a hit to the fence in left by Misenheimer.
Billy and Judy King
WOW! What a way to start the tournament Bryant, keep it going. We are Aaron Orender’s Great Uncle and Great Aunt from New Bern, NC. Keeping tabs on you and your team mates.