Offense powers Carson over CV

Carson's 11-12 all-star team came out hitting and never stopped.

The locals scored nine in the first and eight more in the fourth en route to a 20-4 mercy rule win over Carson Valley in the District 1 opener for both squads Saturday at Governors Field.

Carson moves into the second round today at 7:30 p.m. against Reno Continental. Carson Valley returns to action Tuesday night.

"That was nice (to get 20 runs)," said Jim Andrews, Carson Valley manager. "We talked about coming out firing and they sure did.

"We talk about playing one game at a time, but play like every game is our last game and leaving it on the field. There were rumors floating around that they weren't as strong as in the past."

Carson collected five hits in the opening, and four of them went for extra bases.

After Shane Andrews forced Connor Pradere at second, P.J. White singled to put runners at first and third. Winning pitcher John Holton hit a one-hopper to short. Johnathan Hoyt elected to throw home, but Andrews easily beat the throw, and White moved around to third.

Kyle Kunz doubled to right-centerfield to score White to make it 2-0, Connor Leahy followed with a two-run single to make it 4-0. Following a strikeout, Ryan Pope doubled home a run. Cody Azevedo followed with a triple just inside the foul line in deep right to score Pope with the sixth run of the inning.

The game was big for Azevedo, who played for Carson Valley last year.

"It was good for him," said the elder Andrews. "He's a Carson Valley boy. He was chomping at the bit to play this game."

Pradere, the 10th batter of the inning, walked. Shane Andrews pounded a three-run shot well over the fence in left-centerfield to make it 9-0.

Carson made it 11-0 in the second on run-scoring groundouts by Asa Carter and Leahy. The latter hit a shot that went off the leg of the Carson Valley pitcher straight to the shortstop, whose throw barely got Leahy.

The winners added another run in the third when Andrews hit a one-out double and scored when White's groundball was misplayed.

Holton, who had cruised through the first two innings thanks to a nice curveball and some good defense, yielded a run in the third.

Tanner Valenzuela reached on an infield single, advanced to second on Avery Wells' single, to third on a wild pitch and scored on Dylan Sullivan's single. Wells moved to third on Sullivan's hit.

Then, Carson Valley ran itself out of the inning. Sullivan broke for second, and Andrews toward second. Kunz cut the ball off and threw home to retire Wells, as Andrews did an excellent job blocking off home plate. To compound matters, Sullivan tried to take third on the play, but was gunned down by Andrews.

Carson completed the rout with eight in the fourth. Holton struck the big blow, a towering three-run homer to left-centerfield. Zach Simms, Azevedo, Andrews and White had RBIs in the final inning.

Armed with a huge lead, Holton was touched for three runs in the fifth, two scoring on a single by Daniel Owens. Holton threw just 61 pitches in the triumph.

"He did an awesome job," the elder Andrews said. "The first three innings the curveball was dropping in there. Their knees were buckling."

Holton fanned three and didn't walk a batter.

Carson's offense was led by Andrews, who went 3-for-4 with four RBIs. White, Holton and Leahy all had two hits.

10-11-YEAR-OLDS

Carson Valley 12, Carson 5

Carson Valley did all of its damage in the fourth and sixth innings en route to an easy win over Carson.

The loss dropped Carson into the loser's bracket. Carson will play Reno National today at 7:30 p.m. Carson beat Reno National in its opening-round contest.

Carson Valley scored seven runs in the fourth and five in the top of the sixth. Carson had problems defensively, making four errors.

Offensively, Carson got hits from Kyle Krebs, Jace Keema and Tommy Gall. Bryce Moyle, Krebs, Jayden DeJoseph and Jesse Knorzer were each credited with an RBI.

9-10-YEAR-OLDS

Carson Valley 7, Carson 3

The Carson City 9-10-year-old team fell short against Carson Valley 7-3 Saturday afternoon.

The loss eliminates Carson City from the championship bracket.

Carson Valley jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Carson manufactured a run on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Glanzman to cut the lead to 2-1.

Carson City would take the lead in the top of the fourth. Zach Harris led the inning off with a double. He would be tagged out after getting in a run down on Abel Carter's infield hit. Harris continued the run down long enough to enable Carter to get to second.

After a walk put runners on first and second, both runners moved up on a fielder's choice. They would score after Dan Morrison reached on an error and Carson Valley had trouble getting the ball back to the pitcher.

Carson Valley added four in the bottom of the fourth. CVLL loaded the bases before a two RBI double, a run scoring single plated three of the runs. It could have been more but Morrison threw a bullet from right field to Carter to cut down a run at the plate.

Carson Valley would tack on another run in the fourth. And a final run in the fifth.

Carson City tried to rally in the sixth but stranded runners at second and third.

• Adam Trumble also contributed to this report