Winning four straight games to open the Cal Ripken World Series can be tiring for a team of 12 year olds.
The team from Bryant, Ark., making its second consecutive appearance in Aberdeen, won its fourth game Wednesday, 2-1, over Calvert County, Md. and remained atop the American Division at 4-0.
After the win, Bryant traveled from Aberdeen to the Inner Harbor to visit ESPNZone, seeking a break from the heat and tough competition.
“We?re not getting a lot of sleep at night,” said pitcher Riley Hall, “because we play a late game and then an early game.”
By winning Wednesday, though, Arkansas earned a break today ? sort of.
Bryant should be well-rested for its elimination game this evening at 5:30 at Cal Sr.?s Yard at the Ripken Stadium Complex in Aberdeen, where it will play for a berth in Friday?s U.S. Championship.
The U.S. Champion plays the winner of the International Championship game for the World Championship on Saturday at 5 p.m.
“We?re playing the No. 2 seed, so we?re pretty confident right now,” said pitcher Tyler Nelson, who threw a complete-game with 11 strikeouts Wednesday.
Nelson was on last year?s team that lost to eventual-champion Hawaii in the U.S. Championship Game.
“I just don?t want it to be like last year,” Nelson said. “I want to go all the way this year.”
So, too, do his teammate.
“I?ve been thinking I want to do what they did, plus more,” said Hall, who won two games in the pool play.
Hall said the best team he saw during pool play was Oakland (Calif.), which led Bryant, 7-2, Tuesday before Bryant rallied for a 9-7 win.
The majority of Bryant?s players don?t have a particular team they?d like to play or avoid.
But catcher Blain Jackson has one team in mind.
“We?re thinking Lexington, Ky. Last year, the [Bryant team] had some trouble with them,” Jackson said. “All we have to do is hit the ball and play our defense.”
Center fielder Tyler Green batted .600 with two home runs in the opening round, while left fielder Marcus Wilson batted .556.
Hit the ball, and rest.
“We?re trying to go to bed early,” Jackson said. “Its hard, but we?re doing it.”
