When two guys are matching each other pitch- or pitch, it's nearly a given that whoever gets the break at the right time is going to win the game.
Such was the case Saturday morning, where Douglas overcame South Tahoe's Max DeLallo - considered by many to be the top pitcher in the region this season - 3-1 in Minden. The Tigers took Game 2 14-0 later in the day to complete the three-game sweep in Minden.
DeLallo and Douglas ace Kameron Van Winkle were locked in a pitcher's duel throughout Game 1 with both pitchers throwing complete games and striking out 12 apiece.
DeLalloe surrendered just two hits and two walks while Van Winkle (2-1) picked up his 12th career win while giving up three hits and walking three.
"It was a great game," Douglas coach John Glover said. "It's fun to watch when you get a pair of guys throwing at their best.
"We're lucky to come away with a win against a guy like DeLallo. It could've gone either way and we had to get a couple breaks in our favor to even get in a position to win."
The difference in the game came in the bottom of the sixth with the score tied at one.
Ryan Ford drew a walk to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Shane Fencl. Ford's older brother, Kyle, later hit a two-out triple to center field that brought in what was ultimately the winning run.
DeLallo was called for a balk on the second pitch to Matt Thomas, which brought Kyle Ford home at set the score at its final, 3-1.
"It was as tight as a game can get," said South Tahoe coach Don Amaral, whose team committed four errors in the game. "It comes back to what we've been battling all year. We made some costly errors that created baserunners for them.
"We've got to get outside (South Tahoe's field is still covered with snow) and take some fly balls and grounders to clean some of this stuff up."
Both teams managed to manufacture runs early on to create a 1-1 tie.
Douglas struck first after Scott Rudnick reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the third.
Brett Anderson sacrificed Rudnick to second and Ryan Ford reached on an error, which pushed Rudnick to third.
Douglas then executed a double steal during which Tahoe attempted to catch Ford at second but Rudnick broke for home and scored on a throwing error. Ford ended up safe at second.
In the top of the fourth, Tahoe loaded the bases on three straight walks to lead off the inning.
Van Winkle settled down to strike out the next two batters, but Jamie Yelles, who drew a walk to lead off the inning, successfully stole home on the first pitch to Rigel Gorman, tying the score.
"You get Douglas executing the double steal and then we steal home - There's no question we were both pushing the envelope there," Amaral said. "The steal home was a play we'd planned on if we got in the right situation.
"It was a risk, but it worked out in our favor at the time."
The two sides combined for only three baserunners over the next two innings before Douglas took the deciding lead.
Offensively for South Tahoe, DeLallo doubled and Jamie Yelles and Ricky Braun accounted for the VIkings' other hits.
Van Winkle, in the game's trend of matching pitchers, also doubled. Ford's triple was the only other Tiger hit of the game.
In Game 2, Douglas took advantage of five South Tahoe errors - not to mention a home run off Van Winkle's bat - on their way to the 14-0 win.
Senior lefty Beau Battista had 12 strikeouts of his own, walking one and giving up only a pair of hits to DeLallo. Battista improved to 2-0 on the year with the win.
Kyle Ford went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs to lead the Tigers while Ryan Ford, Van Winkle and Battista each drove in two runs.
Danny King, Ryan Ford, Walker Gemmill, Scott Rudnick, Cody Lommori and Brett Parks each added a hit a piece. Parks' hit was a double and Gemmil had an RBI.
Douglas improved to 7-4 overall on the year and 5-1 in Sierra League play. The Tigers travel to Reno High Tuesday for a 3:45 p.m. game.
