Baseball: Hooligans drop a pair, still alive

The Carson Valley Little League Hooligans are facing a must-win situation heading into tonight's game against Reno American East.

After opening the District I Hooligans tournament with a big win over South Tahoe, Carson Valley suffered a 15-0 loss to Carson National on Saturday and an 8-4 loss to Sparks Centennial on Sunday.

Against Carson National, Joe Almeida's double to lead off the second inning was the team's only hit of the game.

Some shaky defense in the first inning allowed 10 runs to cross the plate, but Jared Morgan came up with a big catch in right field and fired the ball back home to catch the runner trying to score to end the inning.

"Taylor Souza started the game on the mound and he was throwing strikes but we just couldn't help him out by making the routine plays on defense," Carson Valley coach Tom Mariani said. "He deserved a lot better."

Matt Jones struck out the side on 13 pitches in the second.

Carson Valley was dealt another blow in the third after Morgan was hit by a pitch that broke his right arm.

Against Sparks Centennial, Carson Valley built a 4-1 lead before Almeida drove a pitch to left center that would extended the lead to 5-1.

A baserunning blunder, however, turned the potential sacrifice fly into an inning-ending double play.

Jake Mariani started the game on the mound and kept the hitters off-balance for three innings.

He struck out the first two in the first inning and after a batter reached on an error, Almeida, playing catcher, threw the runner out to end the inning.

Souza was 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles while Mariani, Brandon Bohan and Joey Swisher were each 1-for-3.

Carson Valley plays Reno American East tonight at 8 p.m.