Little League Hooligans win opener

The Carson Valley Little League Hooligans all-star team opened the Nevada District I Tournament with a 14-8 win over Sparks Centennial Wednesday night at Swope Middle School in Reno.

Carson Valley scored six runs in the sixth to break an 8-8 tie and run away with the game.

Cooper Jones doubled Jake Mariani home in the top of the first to give Carson Valley an early 1-0 lead, but Sparks Centennial answered with five runs in the bottom half.

Carson Valley regained the lead in the second, scoring five runs in the second for a 6-5 lead.

David Neisses led off the third with a double off the left field fence and later scored on a single from Connor Greth. Carson Valley carried an 8-5 lead into the fifth, but Sparks again came back to tie it at eight.

Mariani led off the sixth with a walk and Jones also drew a walk.

Cody Tindel, who plated Carson Valley's sixth run earlier in the game with a sac fly to left, bunted single to load the bases.

With two outs, Dalton Grisell was hit by the first pitch he saw, bringing home the go-ahead run.

Greth and Steven Hiatt drew back-to-back walks to tack two more runs on and Michael Hoyt bunted single to bring Caleb Duster home from third.

Mariani sealed things up with a two-run double.

Starting pitcher Steven Hiatt, who went 2-for-3 at the plate, pitched the team through two outs in the fifth and stuck out the final batter he faced before reaching his pitch limit.

Doyle came in and retired the last batter in the fifth after a run scored on a throwing error and pitched a scoreless sixth.

Greth threw out a runner at second base from right field.

Other notable performances for Carson Valley in the game included Joey Swisher going 1-for-1 with a single and Brandon James making a key defensive play at third base in the fourth inning to help keep Sparks off the board in the inning.