Hornets take 10th straight
– Before playing the Northside Grizzlies to open 6A Central Conference play in mid-march, the Bryant Hornets had just suffered a 4-2 loss to the Greenbrier Panthers, their first loss of the season. Playing the Grizzlies two days later, the Hornets beat Northside 6-4 and have since won 10 straight, including again downing the Grizzlies on Thursday in a 12-2 rout.
The victory puts the Hornets at 17-1 overall, improving to a perfect 8-0 in league play with a rematch with the Catholic Rockets in the Central Tuesday in Little Rock. It’s been over a month since that first and only loss to Greenbrier.
After a scoreless first on Thursday, the Hornets would get on the board in the bottom of the second when junior Turner Seelinger reached on a oneout double and scored on senior Garrett Wilson’s RBI single. After Blaine Sears walked, senior Lawson Speer singled in courtesy runner Logan White for the 2-0 lead after one.
Seelinger would be majorly involved in the Hornets next scoring opportunity in the bottom of the third. Junior Connor Martin reached on a one-out double before a strikeout ensued for the second out. But, Seelinger went deep, hitting a 2-run home run to left field to put Bryant up 4-0.
The Grizzlies would get to Bryant starter Wilson in the top of the fourth with three straight singles, one for an RBI. Northside stole home to make it a 4-2 ballgame with no outs, but Wilson
induced a ground out and struck a man out before senior catcher Ryan Riggs picked off a Grizzly at third to get out of the inning. Northside would not score again.
The Hornets would get those runs back and more the next half inning with
Jordan Knox, courtesy running after a Riggs single, stealing second and third and scoring on senior Noah Davis’ fielder’s choice. Senior Austin Ledbetter singled and Martin walked to load the bases before JT Parker’s bases-loaded base on balls scored another for the 6-2 lead, which turned to 7-2 after Seelinger’s sacrifice fly.
Davis had a sacrifice fly in the fifth to make it 8-2 before the Hornets piled on in the sixth with help from three straight walks to start the inning. Wilson scored two with a double to left field, with Sears following with a 2-run single to set the 10-run final.
Wilson picked up the win giving up two runs on six hits and no walks, striking out eight in five innings. Senior lefty Aiden Adams pitched a perfect sixth, striking out two in an inning.
Wilson also led the way at the plate, going 3 for 4 with three RBIS, with Seelinger going 2 for 2 with a homer, three runs and three RBIS. Sears finished 2 for 3 with two RBIS, with Riggs 2 for 3. Ledbetter, Martin (two runs) and Speer (RBI) all added a hit, with Davis adding two RBIS. Knox had four stolen bases in courtesy-running duty.