RENO - Carson City won the Babe Ruth State 14 year olds tournament in dramatic style on Thursday night, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure a 5-4 victory over Reno West and advance to next week's Western Regional.
Carson went into the inning trailing 4-1 after Reno West had scored all four of its runs in the top of the sixth inning. Carson reliever Scott DeFriez retired the side in the top of the inning, and then his team's offense came to life to score the dramatic victory.
Carson loaded the bases in the bottom half, and Eric Melendez drove in a run by drawing a walk, making the score 4-2. DeFriez, who got the win for Carson, then helped his own cause with a two-run single that tied the game at 4-4.
David Nelson, who went 2-for-3 in the game, followed with the decisive blow, singling down the right-field line to score Bryan Upton.
It was a hard-fought game all the way, as the tournament's two best teams put on a defensive show and kept the game close throughout.
Carson took a 1-0 lead in the fifth. Jeff Hurzel singled, then stole second base before scoring on a Ryan Henry single.
But Reno West fought back against Mike Handley, who had been rolling along with five shutout innings. In the sixth, Reno West came to life and loaded the bases, and DeFriez was brought on for relief.
DeFriez walked in two runs in the inning, but he was able to limit the damage and escape further trouble before Carson rallied to win.
Carson advances to the West Regional, an eight-team tournament that begins on Aug. 3 in Visalia, Calif. The team's first game will be at 2:30 p.m. that day against Central California.
There will be four teams from California in the tournament. Carson City will be the Nevada state representative.
If Carson City wins the tournament, it will advance to the Babe Ruth World Series.
