The Carson Valley Hot Shots showed that slow starts don't mean a thing.
The Hot Shots spotted the Snohomish Shock three first-inning runs and then scored five in the second and 10 more in the fifth en route to a 16-6 win in the opening round of the 14-and-under NSA Western World Series at Centennial Park Monday afternoon.
The Hot Shots, playing in the B Division, play the East County Hot Shots today at 11 at Centennial.
"We had a slow start," said Hot Shots coach Tom Keck. "I knew that if we were in the game long enough we would come through with our bats. We've been doing this all year long. It's a team effort."
The Hot Shots collected nine hits, but were also the recipients of a it batsman and six walks. Of those seven runners, six of them scored.
Winning pitcher Kalee Duryee's two-run single was the key hit in the Hot Shots' five-run inning which enabled them to wipe out the early 3-0 deficit.
The Hot Shots made it 6-3 in the fourth when Shelby Bell singled home Kelly Sonnemann, who had reached on a bunt single and advanced to second on an infield out.
The Carson Valley squad blew the game wide open in the top of the fifth with the aforementioned 10 runs to make it 16-3. The key hits in the uprising were two-run singles by Marlena Martin and Jenna Geyer.
Duryee and Sonnemann led the Hot Shots with two hits apiece, while Amanda Caras, Geyer, Martin, Bell and Nicole Rios added a hit apiece.
Duryee was especially impressive in the middle three innings when she threw shutout ball and allowed just two hits. She was touched for three runs in the first and fifth.
"She's a strong pitcher," Keck said. "Her ERA (for the year) is right around 2."
Nev. Wildcats 4, Sunnyvale Wicked 2
The Wildcats scored twice in the first and made that stand up in an opening-round win.
The game was called after four innings because of the 90-minute time limit.
"We played well until the last inning," said Wildcat coach Troy Batasini. "We had a little mental lapse at the end before we were able to put it away. We hit well and ran the bases well."
Batasini was pleased with the pitching of Kayla Batasini and Ashley Reese, who threw two innings apiece.
Kelly Lujan and Danielle Steward led the Wildcats with two hits apiece, while Jen Purcell and Stephanie Angotti contributed a hit each.
Purcell's hit was a big one - a two-run double in the first.
Sunnyvale scored both of its runs in the fourth inning.
Galt Illusion 10, Dayton Prowlers 0
Ariel Alden beat the Prowlers with her arm and bat in the opening-round win. Alden doubled and also hurled a four-hitter with nine strikeouts.
Jenika Ruiz and Shayla Wammack led Galt with two hits apiece in the game which ended in the fourth because of the 10-run rule.
Becca Brewer led Dayton with a double and single, while Ashley Vickers and Skylar Jones each added a single.
Drop Zone 8, Hot Shots 3
The Hot Shots used a plethora of walks to score three runs in their first at-bat, but that's the only offense they could muster the rest of the way.
The Drop Zone used five walks and a sacrifice fly for five first-inning runs and then added two more in the fifth to close out the win. The game was called with two outs in the fourth because of the 90-minute time limit.
Emily Downer singled for the Hot Shots.
- The 12-under Carson Sharks play at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. at Edmonds Park.
- The 16-under Carson Sharks play at 9 a.m. at Golden Eagle Park in Sparks
- The 14-under Carson Valley Hot Shots play at 11 a.m. at Centennial Park
