From staff reports

The Vicksburg Venom hit a bump in the road Saturday in their quest for a Cal Ripken World Series berth.

Defending regional champion Bryant, Ark., turned a pair of inning-ending double plays and escaped three bases-loaded jams to beat the Venom 7-4 in a winners’ bracket game at the 10-year-olds’ Cal Ripken Southwest Regional in Monticello, Ark.

The loss drops the Venom into an elimination game today at 1 p.m. against Monticello, Ark., or Harrison, Ark. The winner of the regional advances to the 10-year-olds’ Cal Ripken World Series, which begins Aug. 8 in Abbeville, La.

On Saturday, the Venom had plenty of chances to stay in the winners’ bracket. John Austin Burris went 2-for-3 with a double, single, and a run scored, and Tyler Smith drove in a run with a ground-rule double in the top of the sixth. Smith finished the game 2-for-3, and Brooks Boolos also drove in two runs with a single.

Vicksburg left the bases loaded in the third, fourth and sixth innings, however, and could never get the big hit to go ahead. Bailey Bowers earned the win for Bryant, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out four. Matt Vangilder pitched the last two innings for the save.

Lane Hynum threw 3 2/3 innings of strong relief for the Venom. He gave up three runs and only one hit. Dale Griffith took the loss after allowing four runs in just one-third of an inning.

Brooks Boolos also threw one inning of perfect relief for the Venom.br>