RENO - Carson American's 11-12 year-old all-star team closed out pool play in the District tournament with an impressive 11-1 win over South Tahoe on Friday at Swope Middle School.
The game was shortened to five innings because of the 10-run rule. It was the third time in four games that Carson won on the run rule.
Carson American went undefeated, tying Washoe Valley with a 4-0 record. The Washoe team was awarded the top seed in the pool beased on fewer runs allowed.
Carson returns to action tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the single-elimination phase of the tournament against Reno American East.
"I had a feeling we had a shot (at going undefeated)," Carson manager Jim Blueberg Jr. said. "I didn't know if we could do it or not. The players on this team are capable of playing at a high level.
"They (Reno American East) have a good team. It's going to be a dogfight. From here on out, our team is going to have to play good ball to win."
With nothing at stake because second place had already been clinched, Blueberg used five different pitchers - Conner Beattie, Conner Van Dyck, Austin Law, Bryan Sommers and Brock Pradere - against South Tahoe. The group allowed just four hits and just a first-inning run.
South Tahoe took a 1-0 lead in the first when leadoff hitter Jamie Yelles singled, moved to second on a single by Risel Garmen, to third on a wild pitch and scored on Moriah Lane's line-drive out to left.
Carson tied the game in the second when Zach Berg homered to straight-away center.
The American squad tacked on two more in the third when the South Tahoe second baseman dropped an infield fly with the bases loaded, allowing Conner Beattie and Austin Pacheco, both of whom singled, to score.
Carson put the game out of reach in the fifth thanks to the big bat of Mark McCraw, who sparked an eight-run outburst with a grandslam.
Beattie and Austin Pacheco walked to open the inning. Colby Blueberg followed with a comebacker to the mound, forcing Beattie at third. Nick Domitrovich walked to load the bases. McCraw followed with a towering homer off reliever Wade Norberg to make it 7-1.
The winners continued to score at will, as Van Dyck, Law, Pradere and Adam Whitt contributed run-scoring hits.
Carson finished with 10 hits, including homers by Zach Berg and McCraw. Law also added two hits.
CARSON NATIONAL 10, RENO NATIONAL 8
After two straight blowout losses, Carson National bounced back with an impressive win over previously unbeaten Reno National.
Carson National finished pool play with a 2-2 record along with Reno American East and Reno Continental. The two Reno squads advanced to the single-elimination phase of the tournament because they each allowed 21 runs and Carson allowed 34.
"I'm proud of the kids," Carson manager Kevin Hollaway said. "Coming back after getting beat up the last two nights. It showed we hadn't given up."
The hitters pounded out 13 hits, including three by Chance Quilling and two each by Clay Holton, Bryce Altus and Briar Timmons. Holton swung a big stick, driving in four runs thanks to a pair of two-run singles.
"All the kids hit the ball real well," Hollaway said.
Carson scored two runs in each of its first two at-bats to take an early 4-1 lead. Holton drove in two runs in the second on the first of his two hits.
In the top of the fourth, Carson struck for four runs on four hits, all singles, to take an 8-1 lead. Holton and Ricky McDonald drove in two runs apiece with singles.
Quilling, who sailed through the first three innings, had problems in the fourth. Reno scored six in the inning, chopping the lead to 8-7. Shea Bondi got the last two outs for Carson.
Robert Lujan had a two-run double, Nick Moody hit a run-scoring double, Colton Hampson also hit a run-scoring double and two runs scored on passed balls.
Carson put the game away with two more runs in the fifth thanks to an error and a run-scoring single by Bondi to make it 10-7.
