VAN – The Bullard Panthers beat the Canton Eagles 10-5, in the finals of the I- 20 Classic played at Vandal Field on Saturday night.

Bullard’s Cameron Hallford went 2- for-2 with a solo homerun and a two-RBI in the four-run Bullard sixth inning, as Bullard gained their first lead at 5-4 in same stanza.

Bullard freshman, Trevor Rumbelow came on in relief of starter Taft Rose in the fifth inning, to strike out five and surrender one run on a double-RBI by Canton’s Kody Landes, in the final Eagle’s at-bat for the 10-6 final score.

The second batter of the game, Canton’s Colton Brewer belted at two-run homer, to give the Eagles an early 2-0 advantage.

A lead off walk to Tanner Smith for the Eagles was followed up with the smash from Brewer over the left centerfield fence.

Hallford cut the lead in half with a solo shot over the centerfield wall for a 2-1 score.

At top, a team championship picture with their new plaque for the I-20 Classic win. Above, shortstop Koby Greene laces one to the fence, for a standup double in the game over Mabank on Friday night. The Panthers beat Canton 10-6 to take the tourney title. Van came to Bullard on Tuesday and plays Lindale at home at 7 on Friday night. (Banner Staff Photos by Doc Smith) Canton added two more runs in the fourth inning on a two-RBI single by losing pitcher runs for Bullard. Catcher, Stephen Langston slapped a two-RBI double for Bullard and a 8-4 cushion for the Panthers. Trevor Rumbelow next singled in the final run for the 9-4 lead, before the Panthers scored the final run on a passed ball.

Freshman, Rumbelow struck out five and allowed no hits in relief, to pick up the win and the title.

On Thursday, the Panthers beat Arlington Pantego, A TAPPS state champion, 12-1 and returned to Van on Friday for decisive wins over Mabank (15-1), and the host team Van, 12-3 in the late Friday game.

Nick Rumbelow picked up the win against Van, and also jacked his first roundtripper of the season with a 450-foot shot over centerfield.

Unscathed, the Panthers were set for the showdown with Canton for the title.

The win is the second tournament title for Bullard, after winning the Fort Worth ‘Tournament of Champions, and going 5-0, recovering from a 1-4 slump and improving to 11-4.

“I’m really impressed with some of the players we have had step up in some crucial points of the game and come through for us,” said head coach of the Panthers, Ronnie Dent. “We got back to making good pitches on the mound, and getting good at-bats and working the pitchers at the plate.

“As long as we keep focused the way we have been in Fort Worth and here in Van, we can be a really good team, even if the sports writer still hangs out with us,” Dent continued our inside joke.

Van plays at Bullard on Tuesday with first pitch set for 6 p.m.

Championship Game
At Vandal Baseball Field
Bullard 10, Canton 6
Bullard 001 004 5 - 10 9	2
Canton 200 020 1 - 5 7	5

Taft Rose, Trevor Rumbelow (5), and Stephen Lansgton. Jonathon Huddle, Nick Garrison (5) and Ethan Vestal.. W – T. Rumbelow. L – Huddle. 2B- B: Koby Greene.HR – B: Cameron Hallford (solo, third inning,). C: Colton Brewer (one on, first inning). SB – B: Kirk Bryant, Hunter Skelton. C: Huddle. RECORDS- Bullard 11-4. NEXT UP – Van At Bullard, Tues., 6 p.m.