Carson American 9-10s falls to Washoe in District 1 finals

By Charles Whisnand

Appeal Sports Editor

RENO " Like what Manny Ramirez once said he would do for Boston Red Sox fans on the way to the 2004 World Series title, it was time for Carson American coach John Simms to "turn those frowns upside down" when it came to his players.

The players for Carson American's 9-10-year-old all-star team were understandably disappointed after the Americans lost to Washoe 10-0 in the championship game of the District 1 Tournament on Sunday at South Valleys Sports Complex.

Simms was quick to remind his players what they had accomplished when they entered the dugout after the game.

"I had a blast," Simms said. "I don't want to see these faces like this. I'm very proud of you guys. This is a great accomplishment."

In Washoe, the Americans fell 10-0 to a team that had been routinely scoring 20 or more runs in the tournament and held its opponents to four runs for the entire event. The Americans scored three of those runs in an 18-3 loss earlier in the tournament in a game that was tied 3-3 going into the bottom of the fourth inning. "This is just a great team," said Simms about Washoe. "They're like a dream team."

Washoe's Tommy Lichty retired the first nine batters he faced until allowing a leadoff single to Harry Meyer to begin the top of the fourth. But Lichty retired the next three batters to end the game by the mercy rule. Lichty finished the game with five strikeouts.

Conner Pradere didn't pitch that badly for the Americans and if not for a couple of bad breaks, could have fared better. Lichty hit an RBI triple and scored on a wild pitch in the first. Washoe then scored another unearned run to take a 3-0 lead when it was ruled that first baseman Zach Simms was pulled off the bag by a throw on a questionable call.

Washoe struck for four more runs in the second to take a 7-0 lead with the highlight being Daniel Page's three-run double.

In the third, Washoe was helped by another questionable call when second baseman Bryce Moyle fielded a groundball and tried to tag the runner heading to second. It appeared the runner went out of the baseline to avoid the tag, but the runner was ruled safe and Washoe ended up with runners at first and second. Carson American manager Troy Moyle ended up being ejected after the play.

Pradere was chased by Travis Bohall's RBI single that gave Washoe a 9-0 lead. Jonathan Collins came on and went on to strike out the side but not before Jared Blake's RBI single that gave Washoe a 10-0 lead.

Simms said the CA on his team's caps that stood for Carson American also stood for "Class Act."

"A pesky group," he said. "These kids don't quit. They don't die. They worked hard. They practiced hard. The CA stands for class act from beginning to end and they were a class act."