Carson 10-11 stars rip Sparks National

Sparks National fired the first salvo, but Carson City won the battle.

Carson used a 10-run second inning to defeat Sparks 13-1 to stay alive in the District 1 10-11 all-star tournament at Governors Field.

The game was called on the 10-run rule after 3 1/2 innings.

Carson has won two straight elimination games, and faces a third one tonight at 8 when it faces Sparks Centennial.

Carson manager Dom Mariani said he isn't sure who will start on the mound tonight.

"We have a lot of pitchers," Mariani said. "We have a lot of different guys who could start."

Mariani used three pitchers. Abel Carter started and worked the first two innings. Jayson Artz and Zach Harris each pitched a scoreless inning.

"Abel did throw a lot of pitches," Mariani said. "He didn't have his best staff, but he threw well. Zach and Jayson threw well for us."

The trio fanned six and walked one while allowing four hits.

Sparks took a 1-0 lead in the first when Will Bannister walked, moved to third on Matthew Longland's double to right-centerfield. Braeden Goodnough rolled out to first to score Bannister.

Sparks managed just three hits the rest of the way.

Carson scored twice in the bottom of the first, using a hit batsman, a walk, and singles by Jerry Thomas, Carter and Landon Truesdale to take a 2-1 lead.

Carson exploded for 10 runs in the second on eight hits, three walks and an error. The winners sent 15 batters to the plate.

Thomas singled and tripled in the inning and drove in four runs. Ethan Good, Carter, Daniel Morrison, Truesdale and Zach Harris all hit safely in the inning.

"Jerry hits so well," Mariani said. "That's all I can say. He really has come through when needed."

Carson added another run in the third on singles by Brandon Iwamura and Terin Keller plus a double by Harris. Keller's hit drove in the run.

Thomas, Carter and Harris all had two hits each.