After a rocky start, the Carson City Little League Junior all-stars bounced back to record a 7-5 win over Peccole-Las Vegas in the first round of the state tournament at Governors Field Monday night.
Carson City will meet Paseo Verde, a 14-0 winner over Silverada in a winner's bracket game tonight at 8. Silverada will meet Peccole in a consolation game, also at 8.
Peccole took a quick 4-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to an infield single by Collin Marracco, three walks by starter Joe Nelson and a throwing error.
That was the extent of Peccole's offense. Relievers Geo Ramirez and Bryce Moyle combined for five hitless innings.
Carson scored one in the first when Moyle drove in Chea Zevnick, who had reached on a walk, stole second and went to third on a throwing error on the same play.
Carson tied the game at 4 in the fourth, scoring three times on singles by P.J. White and Jordan Anderson. A critical throwing error on a potential double play scored two of those runs.
Carson snapped the tie with three more in the bottom of the sixth as Anderson walked and Lopez was safe on an error. After Kristian Hollaway popped up, Zevnick was safe when the Peccole pitcher threw wildly to second in an attempt to force Lopez at second. Moyle singled home a run and then Connor Leahy hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Lopez. Zevnick also scored on the play when the throw from right field went awry.
Moyle, who was starting his fourth inning of relief was lifted in the top of the seventh after allowing a run on a single, fielder's choice, a walk and an error. Jace Keema came on to retire Riley Stull on a pop-up to second. Blake Kaplan followed with a single to send Jhared Gonzalez to third. Keema retired the next hitter to end the game.
Moyle, who picked up the mound win, was the only Carson player with two hits. Leahy, White and Anderson added one each.
SENIOR LEAGUE ALL-STARS
Carson broke open a tight game with three runs in the fourth and defeated Mountain Ridge 9-1.
Because there are only two teams, Carson and Mountain Ridge are playing a best-of-three tournament which will end by Wednesday.
Carson took a 1-0 lead in the first when Josiah Pongassi walked and eventually scored on two passed balls and a throwing error.
After Josh Young singled to tie the game at 1 in the bottom of the second, Carson broke the tie in the top of the third when C.J. Woons singled, went to second on a passed ball, to third on a bloop double by Pongassi and scored on an infield out by Derek Encinas.
Carson used four hits, an error and a walk to score three times in the fourth to take a 5-1 lead. The key blow was a two-run single by Pongassi. Carson added an insurance run in the fifth when Zac Harjes hit a lead-off double in the fifth, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on an ensuing throwing error.
The teams meet again at 5:30 today.