Carson Nationals set up showdown with Washoe

BY DARRELL MOODY

Appeal Sports Writer

RENO - There wasn't much more Gehrig Tucker could do to insure that Carson National Little League's 9-10-year-old all-star team survived to play another day.

Tucker started the day behind the plate and threw out four would-be base stealers, and then threw a hitless inning of relief in Carson's 10-6 win over Reno Continental in the quarterfinals of the District Tournament at the Washoe Little League Complex.

The win sends Carson, 4-1 in post-season play, against perennial powerhouse Washoe Valley, a 12-8 winner over Carson Valley, tonight at 6. The winner advances to Sunday's championship contest.

"I'm praying they (Washoe Valley) are out of pitchers," Carson head coach Joe Tucker joked. "I was just hoping we could get to the sixth inning tonight (with the lead).

"Gehrig had a great game behind the plate. He threw out four or five runners. I couldn't believe they kept running."

The elder Tucker will send his son, Gehrig, to the mound tonight and see if he can have some of the success he had on Friday night. Washoe certainly has more firepower than Reno Continental, but Gehrig showed great command in his brief stint.

Gehrig Tucker wasn't the only hurler to shine on Friday. Cody Schmidlin, who picked up the win, allowed only one hit in three innings of work. He did walk four batters, but three of those were cut down trying to steal by Tucker.

"Schmidlin threw a great three innings," Joe Tucker said. "I took him out so he could pitch on Sunday."

Reno led 4-1 after the first innings, collecting four hits off Carson starter T.J. Thomsen, including a two-run single by Drayton Christensen.

Schmidlin stabilized the game over the next three innings, and Carson's offense put up six runs in that span for a 7-4 lead.

Four of the runs came in the second, as Michael Patrick delivered a two-run double and Schmidlin added a run-scoring two-bagger. Tristian Bakkedahl and Nate Controneo also hit safely in the inning.

Carson added two in the fourth to make it 7-4 on singles by Luke Maher and Controneo plus a critical error.

Reno trimmed the lead to 7-6 in the bottom of the fifth off reliever Jay Milligan, who walked two batters, hit one and yielded a run-scoring double to Bryson Christensen before retiring the last two batters he faced.

Carson batted around in the sixth, scoring three more runs. Patrick delivered an infield single and Reno made three errors.

Coach Tucker was particularly pleased with Controneo, his No. 7 hitter, and Patrick, the No. 9 hitter. The duo went a combined 4-for-6 with two runs scored and three RBI.

'The bottom of the lineup came through in the clutch," the elder Tucker said.