After fighting Lyon County in a see saw battle for the first inning and a half, Fernley broke away with two runs in the bottom of the second inning and never trailed after that in taking an 11-6 win to qualify for the Babe Ruth 15-year-old state tournament this Saturday.
Fallon hosted the small qualifying tournament with the two top teams advancing to state. Fernley plays North Valleys in the opening round.
Zack Kumler's squeeze bunt in the second broke a 4-4 tie as Fernley took a one-run lead. Devin Oliver then lifted a sacrifice fly to give Fernley, the designated home team, a 6-4 advantage.
Not only did Kumler provide the go ahead run, but he came in the third inning to pitch and gave up only one run.
Fernley broke open the game in the third inning with four runs. Tommy Robb singled but was thrown out at second base on a fielder's choice. Will Wagner then received a free trip to first after being hit in the elbow.
D.J. Rothgeb hit a soft infield single to load the bases for Steven Geil. The center fielder then ripped a two-run single to double the score.
Kumler provided the offense again. Ahead on a 2-0 count, Kumler then smacked a two run single that gave Fernley a six-run lead.
Travis McCurry's triple drove in Fernley's final run in the fifth inning. Lyon County, which included players from Yerington, Silver Springs and Dayton, had its big inning in the second off Fernley pitcher Donovan Edelstein.
Brent Johnson hit a deep fly to right field, which counted as an error, to produce three runs. A double steal allowed Mike Vincent to score.
Lyon County added a run in the fifth inning on an error and also scored its final run in the seventh on an error.
Edelstein picked up the win for Fernley.
