Two Carson City all-star teams used different methods to stay alive in the consolation round of the District 1 tournament Monday night at Governors Field.
The 12-year-olds, who had been plagued by poor defense, made just one error in their 11-8 win over Carson Valley, which got a two-homer, five-RBI game from Austin Grant.
The 11-year-olds used a big 12-run inning to knock off South Tahoe, 19-8, in a game called in the fourth because of the 10-run rule.
Carson’s 11-year-old team returns to action today at 5:30 p.m., while the 12’s play again on Wednesday.
In the 12-year-old game, Carson Valley’s Austin Sullivan tied the game at 8 with a two-run homer off Damian Branco, capping a nice comeback by CV which trailed 8-0 at one point in the game.
Carson didn’t fold, however, and actually took advantage of a big Carson Valley miscue to score three in the sixth to win.
Kobe Morgan walked and reached second on Eddie Tierney’s single to right. With Brian Guthrie up, a pitch got away from the CV catcher. He compounded matters by throwing wildly to third in attempt to get Morgan, and the ball went all the way to the wall which allowed Tierney to score all the way from first to make it 10-8. Guthrie walked and eventually scored on another CV error.
Camden Brown walked in the bottom of the sixth and was forced at second by Trevor Kruger. The ever-dangerous Grant then ripped a shot at third baseman Guthrie, who threw to second. Morgan made a sliding catch and managed to touch second for the force out. Branco retired Chris Thacker on a comebacker to end the thriller.
Carson manager Dave Navarro said defense was the key, and after 16 errors in the three previous games, he was correct.
“When we play defense and we hit, I firmly believe we’re the best team out here,” Navarro said. “We finally put it all together.
“When that kid (Grant) came up last inning everybody was scared. He’s small in stature, but he showed he can swing it.”
Carson led 8-0 after its three at-bats, six of those runs coming in the second. The big hits were a two-run single by Tierney and a three-run homer by Wesley Simpson. Chase Wixon keyed the two-run third with a two-out double.
Carson Valley scored six over the next two innings thanks to three-run and two-run shots by Grant. Including Sullivan’s homer, seven of Carson Valley’s eight runs came on homers.
The 11-year-old game was almost before it started.
After spotting South Tahoe three runs in the first, Carson roared back with six in the bottom of the first and 12 more in the second to take control.
“It was a great win,” Carson manager Zac Pedersen said. “A lot of kids contributed.”
None more than Tanner Hunt, who went 4-for-4 and didn’t allow an earned run in 2-plus innings on the mound. Hunt also was credited with the walk-of single that scored A.J. Kunter and gave the locals an 11-run lead in the bottom of the fourth.
Cameron Boeckman added three hits, while Kunter and Trey Thomas added two hits each. One of Thomas’ hit was a mammoth two-run homer to left-centerfield.
Thomas’ two-run homer and a double by Dillon Damico keyed the six-run first for Carson.
Hunt had two hits in the 12-run third, while Boeckman, Kunter and Thomas all hit safely in the second. South Tahoe pitchers also walked four batters, and the defense made three costly errors.
South Tahoe fought back to 18-9 with five in the third and one in the fourth before Carson ended the game quickly in the fourth.
SUNDAY GAMES
Carson 10s lose 20-8
Reno National scored 13 third-inning runs to wipe out a 6-2 deficit and win handily. The loss sent Carson to the consolation bracket.
Carson managed just six hits, two coming from Cooper Eaton. Anthony Planeta, Kai Miller, Devon Sanchez and Thomas Burchett added a hit each. Sanchez and Eaton were credited with an RBI apiece.
Carson’s defense was faulty, as Reno National scored 10 unearned runs.
Carson 11s lose 11-7
Carson Valley scored five runs in the top of the seventh and Carson was able to only muster a Luke Pedersen solo shot in an 11-7 loss on Sunday, which sent the locals into the consolation bracket.
Damico pitched well for Carson, and was also helped out by a Carter March double play.
Damico was one of four players with two hits. Boeckman, Pedersen and Kunter also had two hits.
