Cardinals improve to 2-0 in tournament

Rob Valerius struck out 10 over five innings as the Carson Cardinals improved to 2-0 in the Reno Knights Memorial Day Weekend Tournament with a 9-4 win over North Valleys on Thursday at Ron McNutt Field.

Valerius allowed one unearned run on two hits in his five innings of work to pick up the win. Valerius was also aided by a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch by Drew Good in center field in the fifth inning.

The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the first when Kyle Stone singled, stole second, went to third on a fielder's choice and scored on Paul Cagle's RBI sacrifice fly. In the second, Dustin Buttner belted a solo home run, Stephen Sawyers singled and scored on Drew Good's RBI single.

Kyle Stone followed with an RBI double and Markus Adams beat out an infield single. Stone scored on a wild pitch and Cagle followed with an RBI single to make it 6-0.

In the fourth, Good was hit by a pitch, stole second and third and scored on an error. Cagle then hit an RBI double off the centerfield fence that would have been out if the wind wasn't blowing in to make it 8-1.

Sawyers, Tom Preston and Good singled and Sawyers scored on groundout to make it 9-1 in the fifth.

Sawyers, Good and Cagle each had two hits and Tyler Smith added a hit. David Charles finished up for Carson, allowing one earned run over the last two innings.

Charles finished with three strikeouts, striking out the side in the sixth. The game ended when Tyler Hutchins threw out a runner trying to steal third.

Carson continues play in the tournament at 7:30 p.m. today against the Reno Muckdogs at McNutt Field.