The Carson 13-year-old Babe Ruth all-stars couldn't hold a 2-1 lead going into the seventh and lost 5-3 in eight innings in the State Tournament on Tuesday at Reno's Clayton Middle School.
Sparks advanced to the championship round while Carson (2-1) must play South Reno at 6 p.m. today at Clayton Middle School for the right to advance to the finals. With a win, Carson would play Sparks at 5 p.m. Thursday and would have to win in that game to force another game for the title at 8 Thursday.
Clay Holton allowed one run over four innings and Austin Law allowed one run over three innings, but Sparks was able to score in the seventh to tie the game 2-2. Mark McCraw's home run for Carson tied the game 1-1 in the second.
Sparks scored three runs in the top of the eighth to take a 5-2 lead. In the bottom of the eighth, McCraw walked and scored on David Holcomb's double for the final margin. Zach Shell also doubled for Carson.