One thing sticks out about Carson Little League's three wins in the District 1 11-12 all-star tournament - fast starts.
Carson has absolutely owned the first three innings thus far, outscoring the opposition 16-2.
The locals scored five quick runs Saturday night en route to a 9-2 win over Sparks Centennial at Governors Field.
The win earned Carson a berth in Tuesday's final (7:30 p.m.) against the winner of tonight's game between Sparks Centennial and Washoe. Sparks Centennial beat Washoe 10-0 earlier in the tournament. Carson has to be beaten twice. If an "if necessary" game is needed, it would be played on Wednesday.
"We've just been jumping on teams," said Jayden DeJoseph, who hit a single, double and homer. "It's all batting practice. We get that adrenaline pumping."
Manager Kinkade DeJoseph can attest to the batting practice part of the success.
"I've been throwing so much batting practice my arm is ready to fall out," the elder DeJoseph said. "I'm exhausted."
The first inning set the tone, as Carson scored three quick runs, and it probably should have been more.
Bryce Moyle opened the game with a single, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a Jayden DeJoseph single. DeJoseph moved to second on the play when the Sparks right fielder made a wild throw toward the plate. Kyle Krebs reached on an error, sending DeJoseph to third. Jace Keema followed with a deep double to center to score DeJoseph. Krebs was thrown out trying to score all the way from first. Keema eventually scored on a wild pitch.
The elder DeJoseph took responsibility for Krebs being thrown out at the plate.
Carson added two more in the second to take a 5-0 lead, as Krebs (run-scoring single) and Kyle Glanzman had hits in the inning.
It probably should have been 6-0, but Jesse Lopez was thrown out at home on a groundball to short for the first out of the inning.
"I didn't think there was any way that they were going to throw him out at home," the elder DeJoseph said. "The ball got there so quick (to short). I thought they would go for a double play. I don't think it was a baserunning mistake on Jesse's part."
Moyle, who sailed through the first two innings, gave up two unearned runs in the third. He left the game after failing to retire the first three batters in the third. He gave up a single to Jake Griffin and a double to Cam Beard. Benny Peck followed with a groundball to second which was misplayed by Krebs, allowing both runs to score.
"I thought Bryce threw pretty well," manager DeJoseph said. "He walked a couple of people, but that was a good team."
On came Keema, and he made a big fielding play to keep Sparks at bay. Jeremiah Harmon dropped down a bunt. Keema came off the mound like a cat and threw a laser to first baseman Zach Simms for the second out. Peck, who was on the third, tried to score, but was cut down by Simms.
"That was a big play," DeJoseph said. "Without that it would have been 5-3 and Jace might have gone over 50 pitches (which would require an extra day of rest.) I knew I was going to go with Jace. They didn't get anything off him."
Keema gave up three singles and two walks in his four -inning stint.
The next three innings were tough for Carson, which struck out eight times against reliever Jon Pinto, who had taken over for an ineffective Brendan Parrisotto.
The only positive in that stretch was a towering solo homer to dead center by DeJoseph, who had looked bad earlier in the count chasing a high pitch.
"It just felt good off the bat," Jayden DeJoseph said. "He left it in the center of the plate."
Carson closed out the game with three in the top of the sixth, as Krebs, Allen and Tommy Gall all drove in runs.
