Carson stars win state, advance to regionals

Carson City Little League's Junior all-star team became the second local team to earn a Western Region berth after pounding Paseo Verde, 16-1, Thursday night at Governors Field.

Carson breezed through the tournament with three straight wins, outscoring its opponents 44-6. Two of the three wins were by the mercy rule. In short, it was a tremendous offensive display. In 14 innings, Carson was retired in order once, and that was last night.

Carson opens play against Oregon at 10 a.m. on Aug. 1 in Vancouver, Wash. The locals play the host Washington team on Aug. 2 at 7 p.m.. Idaho on Aug. 4 at 10 a.m. and Southern California on Aug. 6 at 4 p.m. Then it's on to single-elimination play.

"I'm really pleased with how they played," manager Mike Leahy said. "We went down 4-0 in the first inning of that first game to Peccole, and I looked around at the kids and don't think there was anyone there that thought we were going to lose. We came back and got a run in the first. We tied it in the fifth and it was on from there.

"Our bats did all the talking. We got some real timely hits. After the first inning of the first game, we buckled down."

This one was over quickly after Carson scored four unearned runs in the top of the first.

The locals took advantage of the two errors, three walks issued by starter Kyle Cofer and Jordan Anderson two-run double in the right-centerfield gap. Paseo Verde had a chance to get out of the inning unscathed, but it botched Joe Nelson's double play ball.

Carson made it 5-0 in the second when Kristian Hollaway walked and scored on a two-out double by Connor Leahy.

The winners made it 7-0 in the top of the third when P.J. White reached on a one-out error and scored on Anderson's second double of the game. Anderson reached third on an error and eventually scored.

"Jordan had some great hits tonight," said the elder Leahy. "I think he hit everytime up."

Paseo Verde threatened in the third against Moyle when Jaren Awong walked and moved to second when shortstop Jace Keema bobbled Hall's groundball. August Reich walked to load the bases, Shay Landers followed with a groundball, and Carson turned a nice double play to end the inning.

Carson made it a runaway in the fourth, scoring nine runs on five hits, three walks, a hit batsman and an error to make it 16-0.

The big hit in the inning was a bases-loaded triple by Leahy. Nelson also contributed a run-scoring hit. White contributed a triple and reached home on an errant throw into third.

Moyle, who needed 73 pitches in the five-inning win, allowed a run in the fifth. He finished up allowing just three hits and striking out three.

Spencer Madden reached first on an error by Kristian Hollaway, moved to second on a single by Awong, to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Hall's sacrifice fly.

"I checked with Bryce a couple of times during the game and he said he was good to go," Leahy said.