Cardinals knock off South Tahoe

Appeal Staff Report

Tyler Hutchins didn't allow an earned run in his complete game effort as the Carson Cardinals opened the Reno Knights Memorial Day Weekend Tournament with a 13-3 win over South Tahoe on Friday at Ron McNutt Field.

The game was called after six innings due to the mercy rule. South Tahoe scored an unearned run in the first to take a 1-0 lead.

Carson answered in the second when Matt Rutledge doubled and scored on Jeff Butler's RBI single to tie the score 1-1. Hutchins worked out of trouble in the third as he got a strikeout and a groundout after there were runners at second and third with one out to end the threat. The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third on Paul Cagle's RBI double.

In the fourth, Jeff Butler and Tyler Smith singled and both pulled off a double steal. Butler scored on an error on the play. Brooks Hutchins followed with an RBI double and after Valley walked and stole second, Kyle Stone hit a two-run single to give Carson a 6-1 lead.

Hutchins ran into trouble in the fifth after a double and two walks loaded the bases with no outs. Two runs then scored on an error to cut the lead to 6-3. South Tahoe still had runners at second and third with no outs, but Hutchins got two popups and a groundout to prevent any more damage.

In the bottom of the fifth, Cody Barr singled, stole second and went to third on an error on the play. After Rutledge walked, Butler hit an RBI sacrifice fly.

Valley went on to hit a two-run single and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Cagle eventually hit a two-run single to give Carson a 12-3 lead.

In the sixth, Collin Grischott walked, Colby Blueberg singled and Jeff Davies hit an RBI single to end the game. Valley, Butler, Cagle, Stone and Barr all had two hits for Carson.

Carson will continue play in the tournament today at 10 a.m. against the Reno Knights B team and at 12:30 p.m. against the Sierra Sun Devils. Both games are at Wooster.