Black Sox start 2-0 in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Bryant Black Sox senior American Legion squad began 2-0 in a tournament in Springfield, Missouri, with a 13-0 shutout over the Northland Venom on Thursday before coming back late to claim an 8-5 win over the 417 Hooks on Friday morning. The Black Sox took on Midwest later on Friday with results coming in Sunday’s edition.
In the 8-5 win, Bryant (198) actually trailed 4-0 after two innings before getting back in it in the top of third inning. With Slade Renfrow striking out but reaching on a dropped third strike, Logan Catton walked two batters later with two outs. Renfrow and Catton pulled off a double steal before Cade Drennan hit a 2-run single to get the Black Sox within 4-2, which it remained until the fifth inning.
Logan Chambers drew a one-out walk and Catton singled before Drennan flew out for the second out in the fifth. But, Jake Wright came through with an RBI single to left field and Gage Stark copied Wright with an RBI single of his own to left to tie things at 4-apiece.
The Hooks retook the lead in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single, but Bryant retied it with Brayden Lester’s RBI single to left field to plate Logan Grant, who singed to start the inning, for the 5-5 game.
The Black Sox took the lead for good in the top of the seventh as Catton was
hit by a pitch and Drennan singled to start. A sacrifice bunt from Wright moved the runners up before Catton scored on a passed ball and Drennan on an error for the 7-5 lead. Renfrow’s RBI single later in the inning capped the scoring.
Lester started for the Black Sox and gave up five runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks, while striking out two in
4.1 innings. Catton picked up the win with 1.1 scoreless innings, while Renfrow struck out the only two men he faced for the save.
Wright finished 2 for 2 with two stolen bases and an RBI, Drennan was 2 for 4 with a run and RBI, and Grant was 2 for 4 with two runs. Stark was 1 for 4 with two RBIS and Lester and Renfrow both went 1 for 4 with and RBI, with Renfrow stealing three bases. Catton scored thrice with a 1-for-2 day.
It was all Bryant from the get-go in its 13-0 win over Venom. The Sr. Sox put up six runs in the first inning, pounding out 12 hits for the game, and Christian Motes pitched a two-hit shutout, striking out five vs. one walk in four innings for the win.
Grant went 3 for 3 with three RBIS, Drennan was 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIS, and Stark was 2 for 2 with a triple and two RBIS. Wright, Lester and Ryan Lessenberry all had a hit and RBI apiece, with Chambers adding a hit and a run.