After falling behind early, the Opp 12U Cal Ripken All-Stars rallied to a 6-3 victory over Crosset, Ark., in the first round of the single-game elimination bracket of the 2015 Cal Ripken Major/60 World Series in Monticello, Ark.

 

Crosset got off to a quick start in the bottom of the first inning as they scored on a wild pitch and an error to take an early 2-0 lead over Opp.

 

Crosset added a third run in the bottom of the fourth inning by scoring on a wild pitch.

 

In the top of the fifth inning, Hal Smithart led off the inning with a single, and moved around to third base on a one-out single from Chandler Pyron.

 

Opp loaded the bases one batter later when Case Short was plunked by a pitch.

 

Thomas Glisson put the young Bobcats on the board with a single to left field that scored Smithart from third. Pyron then came around to score on an error to make the score 3-2.

 

Brady James then stepped to the plate with the tying run on second base, and the go-ahead run at first. James came through for his team in a big way by crushing the 3-0 pitch over the fence in right field for a three-run bomb that put Opp on top, 5-3.

 

On the mound, Short held Crosset off the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning.

 

Payton Ellis started off the top of the sixth inning with a single, and then moved up to second on a wild pitch. Smithart then padded the Opp lead with a line-drive single to center that brought Ellis around to score.

 

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Short started the inning with two-straight strikeouts and ground out for the final out of the game.

 

Short picked up the win with seven strikeouts in six innings of work. Short only walked three batters and gave up just four hits.

 

James led the way for Opp with three RBIs in the win.

 

Opp fell 10-0 to New England in their final pool play game on Monday, but still earned the No. 3 seed for the pool D heading into the single elimination bracket.

 

New England picked up two runs in the bottom of the first inning off a pair of solo home runs.

 

In the bottom of the third, another solo home run from New England put them on top 3-0.

 

New England broke the game wide open in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run home run and a three-run home run. With the addition of an RBI single, New England led 9-0 after four innings of play.

 

New England scored once in the bottom of the fifth to down Opp by the 10-run mercy rule.

 

Opp will be back in action at noon today against the pool A No. 1 seed Ohio Valley.

 

The winner will advance to the semi-finals.