CONWAY -- Behind Austin Kelly's bat and Zack Jackson's arm, the Bryant Blacksox qualified for next month's American Legion Mid-South Regional Tournament with a 10-0, seven-inning victory over Texarkana on Saturday.
The Blacksox (26-7) will play for the American Legion state title at noon today at Hendrix College.
Kelly broke Saturday's game open with a second-inning grand slam. Jackson, a University of Arkansas signee, earned his second victory in as many games, as he gave up 6 hits (all singles), 2 walks and struck out 3. Only two Texarkana baserunners managed to reach third against Jackson, who threw 88 pitches in six innings.
"We thought he would be able to do that after a good five days rest," Bryant Manager Darren Hurt said of the Blacksox pitcher. "I thought he was sharp."
On steamy afternoon where the temperature reached 99 and the heat index registered 116, Texarkana starting pitcher Tanner Vaught had trouble finding the strike zone. Bryant scored only one run in the first inning and left the bases loaded, but Vaught had to throw 46 pitches to get out of the inning.
In the second inning with runners at second and third, Texarkana intentionally walked Garrett Misenheimer to get to Kelly, who sent the first offering from Vaught over the left-field wall.
"That first inning set the stage for what we were doing," Hurt said. "We had great at-bats the whole [first] inning. For them to walk Misenheimer and for Kelly to hit the grand slam, that did set the tone for the rest of the ballgame.
"I can't fault [Texarkana]. I probably would have walked Misenheimer, too. He's our best hitter. But Austin Kelly can make you pay. He's got a lot of power. He stepped up and got it done."
Texarkana had a chance to get back into game during the following inning, loading the bases with two singles and a walk. But Jackson got Nick Myers to ground back to the mound to end the threat.
Jake East, who was 2 for 4 with an RBI, led off the Bryant fourth with a triple. Joey Cates and Dylan Hurt each had RBI singles in the inning, and Logan Allen drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Logan Vidrine led Texarkana with two singles.
LITTLE ROCK VIPERS 12,
NORTH LITTLE ROCK COLTS 0
Gavin Johnson tossed a no-hitter as the Vipers eliminated the Colts.
Johnson struck out six, walked three and hit a batter. Johnson also drove in a run and had three singles among Little Rock’s 18 hits.
Markus Bracey went 3 for 5 with a triple and 4 RBI. Dylan Chilcote was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI. DeShun Hampton and Hayden Seay both had doubles.
Sports on 07/24/2016