The third time was a charm for the Carson National 11-12-year-old all-star team at the district tournament in Reno on Thursday.
After two valiant comeback attempts fell just short, the Nationals were able to come back to beat Sparks National 6-4 to finish pool play at 2-2. With the win, the Nationals clinched a spot in the single elimination quarterfinals. The Nationals will play its quarterfinal game at noon today at Reno's Terrace Park.
The Nationals fell behind 4-0 after the first inning. But they began their comeback in the second when Zac Hudson and Daniel Okimura singled and Charlie Banfield drove in a run to make it 4-1.
The turning point in the game came in the third and fourth innings when Hunter Hand and Hudson were able to escape bases loaded jams. Hand came on to shut down Sparks in the first and pitched 3.2 innings before giving way to Hudson in the fourth. Hudson got the last out on the fourth by striking out the first batter he faced on three pitches.
The Nationals cut the lead to 4-3 in the fourth when Jacob McClelland and Logan Krupp singled and Alex Holcomb followed with an RBI single. Another run eventually scored on a passed ball to make it 4-3.
The Nationals tied it in the sixth when T.J. Thomsen doubled and eventually scored on a passed ball.
In the sixth, Banfield doubled and Holcomb hit an RBI single. After Hand doubled, Holcomb scored on a passed ball to make it 6-4.
Thomsen and Holcomb each had two hits and Rory Petersen and Kyle Brown each added a hit. Hudson pitched 2.1 scoreless innings to pick up the win.