If Carson City Little League's 10-11 all-star team could play Reno Continental every game it would win the District 1 title.
Carson evened its tournament record to 2-2 with a 17-4 win over Reno Continental Tuesday night at Governors Field to stay alive in the consolation bracket.
Carson, which opened the tourney with a 15-5 win over the same Continental squad, returns to action tonight at 8 in another elimination game. Carson still has an opportunity to claim third place, but has to show it can beat somebody besides Reno Continental.
"That's exactly what I told them," Carson head coach Dom Mariani said after the contest. "We were a little down on ourselves after the last couple of games, and tonight we came out ready to play.
"We hit the ball pretty well and when we got walked, we made them pay. Jerry (Thomas) and Brandon (Gagnon) had the games of their lives."
Carson pounded out 13 hits, including homers by Thomas and Gagnon. Thomas scattered eight hits in picking up the win.
Thomas jump-started the offense when he hit what appeared to be a three-run homer in the first. It turned out to be a two-run shot because lead-off hitter Ethan Good, who singled, was ruled to have not touched the plate.
Gagnon made it 3-0 in the second when he doubled home Good, who had singled and went to second on a wild pitch. The winners tacked on two more runs in the third thanks to three walks, a single by Brandon Iwamura, a passed ball and Daniel Morrison's run-scoring infield out.
Reno got back into the game, nailing Thomas for three runs and four hits. Esteban Lopez had the key hit, a two-run single. Kurt Pitha's infield single scored the third run.
Carson put the game away with one in the fourth, six in the fifth and five in the sixth.
Thomas helped himself again with a double, driving home Gagnon, who was hit by a pitch.
Gagnon delivered the big blow in the fifth. After Good walked to force home a run, Gagnon cleared the bases with a grandslam to make it 12-3. Carson was the beneficiary of three walks and two hit batters.
The onslaught continued in the sixth, as Reno pitchers couldn't find the plate. Carson drew five walks and collected three hits en route to a five-run inning.
On Sunday, Carson suffered a 15-12 loss to South Tahoe, its second of the tournament. Morrison and Abel Carter each went 3-for-4 for Carson, while Good, Gagnon and Nico Salm all added two hits. Carson used five pitchers in the game, but still couldn't stop South Tahoe.
11-12: CARSON OPENS WITH WIN
Carson used three big innings to decimate Reno National 23-1 in its opening game of the tournament on Sunday.
Carson wiped out a 1-0 deficit with four in the third, six in the fourth and 13 in the sixth.
Kyle Krebs and Jace Keema led the offense with four hits each. Keema went 4-for-5 with a homer, five RBIs and three runs scored. Krebs went 4-for-6 with a double, homer and five RBIs. Jesse Lopez went 3-for-3, Tommy Gall went 3-for-5 and Tez Allen went 3-for-5. Bryce Moyle went 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
All 11 players got at least one hit and scored one run.
Moyle picked up the mound win, going 4.2 innings. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out eight. The run he allowed was unearned.
Tyler Black, Austin Whan and Sean Crumb all had a hit for Reno.