Over the past 10 years, one name has risen to the top when it comes to Little League baseball in Northern Nevada - the Washoe Little League.
Indeed, it has not been uncommon for all-star teams from Washoe to run up victory margins of over 30 runs. And the Washoe teams across the board have been a particular thorn in the side to the Carson Valley Little League All-Stars.
The big breakthrough came Tuesday night at Ranchos Aspen Park as the Carson Valley 10-11-year-old All-Star team topped Washoe 17-12 in the Nevada District 1 Tournament.
"There were a lot of people rooting us on, even people from Reno and Carson," Carson Valley head coach George Mejia said. "It's been at least 10 years, from what people can remember, since a team from here beat Washoe. They've come to dominate baseball at this level and they've done it in a fashion where they really just roll over teams.
"It's not like they run up the score on purpose. They are just so good that they get to a point where they hit the ball and stop at first base and they still score runs."
Last year, the same basic Washoe roster beat Carson Valley 22-2 in the district tournament.
"It was pretty unreal to see. Washoe was just running through this tournament like they do every year. Our kids just battled and came up with the big hits. We only had two strikeouts against us for the whole game, and that was with each kid batting four or five times. Everyone just did what they had to do. It was a beautiful thing to see."
With the win, Carson Valley clinched the No. 1 seed in the elimination bracket, which starts Saturday at Ranchos Aspen. Their first-round opponent is yet to be determined.
"I think the biggest part was just showing the kids they could do this," Mejia said. "They all knew they could go in there and win this."
Carson Valley picked up a 13-11 win over Sparks National in the first game of the tournament and came back to beat Reno Continental 10-5 in the second game. They came back from an early 2-0 deficit against Washoe for the win.
"Coming off those first two games I knew we'd have a chance at Washoe," Mejia said. "The way we were fighting in those games, they really showed a lot of character."
Carson Valley used an eight-run inning to overcome the deficit and then held off a steady Washoe rally with a seven-run inning late in the game.
"It was a good feeling, but right off the bat we told the kids to be happy with the win but to show class and move on," Mejia said. "We still have games left if we want to win this tournament and we'll most likely have to see them again.
"There is still more out there, but that win shows everyone that we have a shot."
The 10-11-year-old roster includes Cody Azevedo, Daniel Owens, Jesse Cawthon, Zach Davies, Jacob Evans, Logan Fencl, Jonathan Hoyt, Michael Mejia, Ben Nolting, Jared Rooker, Richard Simmons and Tanner Valenzuela. Mejia and Troy Valenzuela coach the team.
The Carson Valley 11-12-year-old Little League All-Stars are off to a 2-0 start in the Nevada District I Tournament at Ranchos Aspen Park.
Carson Valley beat South Tahoe 13-1 to open the tournament and followed that with a 2-1 win over Sparks National.
Matt Santos belted three home runs in the first two games and Kaleb Foster hit a solo home run.
Chase Johnson threw a complete game to pick up the win against Sparks.
This group of all-stars has been together through the last three seasons and has posted a 14-2 record in the last two district tournaments combined.
"They are a veteran group," head coach Teddy Foster said. "They are as poised a team as I have ever coached. They've been there before and they know how to get things done. They are playing together really well and in the last month they have come together and really become good friends."
The team's roster includes Foster, Santos, Johnson, Dylan Sullivan, Andrew Bigam, Brandon Bohan, Ky Gemmill, Cale Kynett, Connor Lyons, Skylar Mattinson and Dilyn Rooker.
