Carson Booth gets all of the ball as he blasted the first of back-to-back RBI doubles for the Reds to open up the scoring for the Chandler Reds in the championship game in Bullard. Doc Smith Photo EDITOR’S NOTE: The Bullard News is also a paper that is part of Bluebonnet Publishing, LLC — as is The Statesman.

BULLARD — The Machine-Pitch Chandler Reds used a steadfast defense, and cranked up the bats late, leading to a 16-8 win over the Bullard Bombers. The win in the championship game of the TTBA District 10 tournament advances the Red to state competition..

After getting even with league nemesis Whitehouse Longhorns in the first round action on Monday night, drawing a bye aided to set the stage as the Reds won three straight games to take the Machine-Pitch title.

Chandler will play in the TTBA State Tournament set for Whitehouse, July 26 through 30.

The Bullard Bombers took second place, having earlier lost to the Reds in the first undefeated winners bracket game by a 17-15 score.

Bullard battled back with a hardfought, 24-16 win over the Whitehouse Mustangs in the third place game to set up the rematch in the Thursday finale.

It was a hit-for-hit, and almost runfor run through the first three innings as Chandler held a narrow 6-5 lead going into the bottom of the fourth inning.

Then the Reds went on the offensive.

Led by back-to-back RBI doubles by first-baseman Carson Booth and Brink Bizzell, a pick-up centerfielder from Frankston, the Reds posted a two-run cushion before the defense took over.

Key plays at third base by Cole Williams and shortstop Kelton Jay allowed no runner past second base for two innings for back-to-back scoreless innings as the Chandler defense held.

It would be the difference maker according to a happy Reds head coach, Steve Jay.

“The win on Monday night was really big,” said the Reds head man about the win over Whitehouse. “They had beaten us in league play but we played a great game, earned a bye on Tuesday and put together another two good games.”

After the shutout innings, the Reds put up runs in the fifth inning and put the game away with a seven-run fifth inning for the 16-8, final score.

The addition of pickup players was also key to the sweep for the Reds by the predominately Chandler bunch of seven and eight year-old players, Coach Ray added.

“We had a really good year, and the kids we picked up for Frankston really came through for us (Clay Kennedy, Coy Elton and Bizzell) and did a great job on defense and at the plate.”

Regular season members for the Reds include Kelton Jay, Cole Williams, Carson Booth, Michael McCallie, Jonathan Murphy, Rush McLarry, Braden Wynne, Jacob Fitzgerald, Evan Leon, Everett Collins, Jeffery Gore.

Players picked up from Frankston include Brink Bizzell, Clay Kennedy, and Coy Elton. Coaches are head coach Steve Jay, and assistants Scott Williams, Chris McLarry.