Reno Continental's Rice steams Carson National

GARDNERVILLE - Carson Valley exploded to score 13 runs in the top of the sixth inning and pulled away to a 23-2 victory against Truckee during District I Little League Tournament action on Sunday afternoon.

The tournament host Carson Valley club hit three home runs during the game at Ranchos Aspen Park, including a grand-slam by Ben Brower, a three-run shot by Derek Shoaf and a two-run shot by Darren Brady.

Jeff Young pitched five innings to pick up the win, with help in relief from Shoaf in the sixth. Left fielder Reese Kizer helped out with a defensive gem in left field when the game was still close.

Meanwhile, John Rice pitched two-hit ball and belted a second-inning home run to lead Reno Continental to an 11-1 triumph against Carson National in a winners bracket contest.

Reno Continental led from the outset, scoring three runs in the first inning and then extended the lead to 6-0 when Rice hit a three-run homer over the left field fence. The home run was the second of the tournament for Rice.

Rice also helped his own cause in the field when he combined with first baseman J.J. Mulligan and third baseman Jeremy Loustra to turn a 3-1-5 double play that took Carson out of a rally in the second inning.

Carson got on the scoreboard in the third inning when Nick Bacon scored on Jeremiah Teeter's fielder's choice ground ball.

Loren Wooldridge doubled and Tony Zevenick singled to account for Carson National's hitting.

J.T. Cockerill and Josh Coran split the pitching duties for Carson National.

Carson was coming off a 13-4 opening round victory against Carson American on Saturday, aided by back-to-back defensive gems in the sixth inning, Bacon's running catch of a long fly at the fence and then a tumbling shoestring catch of a low liner by Zevenick at shortstop.

In other games played on Sunday, Sparks Centennial eliminated Carson American from the tournament with a 12-0 verdict, South Tahoe turned back Sparks American 8-4, Reno National edged Reno American 8-7, and Sparks National knocked off Valley Providence 10-2.

Carson National returns to action today when it plays North Tahoe in a 6:30 p.m. elimination game at Aspen Park.