No. 1 Hornets downed by NLR
ROGERS – After winning the 6A Central Conference championship and a firstround bye in the 6A State Tournament in Rogers, the Bryant Hornets’ season would come to an abrupt end on Friday. The Hornets would fall 9-6 in 10 innings to Central foe North Little Rock Charging Wildcats, a team they beat twice during the regular season.
The Hornets (27-5) were playing from behind practically all game as North Little Rock scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning, and the Charging Wildcats scored on a passed ball in the top of the second for the 2-0 advantage.
Bryant, though, would get back in it in the bottom of the third when junior Peyton Dillon singled to start before a strikeout and pop out ensued. But, senior leadoff man Logan Chambers came through with a two-out RBI double to plate Dillon and Chambers later scored on an error to knot things up at 2-apiece.
But, NLR picked up two more runs in the top of the fourth on an RBI ground out
and RBI double to take a 4-2 lead and added a sacrifice fly in the fifth for the 5-2 game. But, Bryant would fight back, again with two outs. Seniors Logan Grant and Coby Greiner flew out and popped out to start the bottom of the fifth before Chambers reached on an infield single. Chambers stole second and sophomore Noah Davis walked before sophomore Austin Ledbetter singled to left to score Chambers. Junior Cade Drennan was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Davis scored on a wild pitch to make it a 5-4 deficit.
Greiner’s sac fly in the bottom of the sixth tied it at 5-5, but the Wildcats picked up an RBI single in the top of the seventh putting the Hornets down one going into their final at-bat. Bryant got some help to start the bottom of the inning as Davis and Ledbetter walked before Drennan doubled home a run to tie things up.
Still with no outs, junior Gage Stark walked to load the bases with the Hornets seemingly in business with the winning run 90 feet away. But, an infield fly, a pop out and a strikeout ensued leaving the bases loaded and forcing extra innings.
With Ledbetter in on relief of starter Will Mcentire, he set down the next seven Wildcats before hitting Bear
Sparks with a pitch with one out in the 10th inning. Ledbetter walked Hayden Henson before Greiner relieved him and walked Jaedon Willis to load the bases. Greiner hit John Henry Maloch to force in a run before getting the next man out, but NLR’S Alex Cauley came through with a 2-run single to put the Wildcats up 9-6.
Greiner lined out and Chambers flew out to start the bottom of the inning before Davis walked and Ledbetter singled, but Drennan popped out for the final out to end Bryant’s excellent season, which included a 16-game win streak.
Chambers (two runs), Ledbetter and Drennan all had two hits and an RBI in the loss, with Dillon going 2 for 5 with a run. Grant also added a hit.
Mcentire started and gave up four runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks, striking out three in 3.2 innings. Ledbetter pitched 5.2 innings, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out four. Greiner gave up two runs on one hit and a walk in two thirds of an inning.
The Hornets will say goodbye to seniors Chambers, Greiner, Grant, Mcentire, Logan Catton, Ryan Lessenberry, Jake Wright and Braxton St. Clair.