Shannon Litz / Nevada Appeal
Reno American used big innings in the fourth and sixth to knock off Carson City, 15-6, in the District I junior all-star tournament Thursday night at Governors Field.
The loss eliminated Carson from the three-team event. Reno will face undefeated Centennial tonight at 7:30 p.m. Reno needs to beat Centennial twice to advance to the state tournament.
Reno American took a 3-0 lead in the first off starter/loser Tyler Christy.
Nelly Padilla walked and stole second. J.B. Leissman was then hit by a pitch. After a double steal, Drew Clark followed with a two-run double. Clark eventually scored on an infield out.
Joel Seth retired nine straight Carson hitters to open the game, but the locals finally got on the board in the top of the fourth when Jesse Lopez reached on an infield single and came around to score on a passed ball.
Reno retaliated with five runs and five hits in the bottom of the inning to up its lead to 8-1. Two runs scored on balks, Clark doubled home a run and Padilla singled home a run.
Carson was on the verge of being 10-runned, but exploded for five runs on Seth, who left in the sixth after facing six batters and getting just one out.
Christy opened the inning with a single and Lopez followed suit. After a double steal, Wesley Redmond doubled home both runners to make it 8-3. Redmond moved to third on a single by Levi Rael and then scored on a passed ball. Rael moved to second on a wild pitch and scored when Nate Duarte singled to left, and the left fielder bobbled the ball. Adam Santos followed with a double to cut the lead to 8-6.
Carson brought in Lopez to pitch the bottom of the sixth.
Lopez walked Padilla to start the inning, but then retired the next two hitters. He walked Seth and then uncorked a wild pitch to put runners at second and third. Austin Thomas followed with a two-run single to make it 10-6. Austin Majorsky, Dylan Thomas, Padilla and Leissman added run-scoring hits to push the lead. The latter two hits came off reliever Alex Honeycutt. Reno sent 11 hitters to the plate in the inning.
Carson went out 1-2-3 in the seventh.
Lopez led the Carson offense with two hits. Austin Thomas led Reno American with three hits.
•••
The only Carson all-star team left is the 50-70 squad which opens regional play in Irvine next Friday. The 50-70 program is new in Nevada, and there were no other leagues in the state to field teams, meaning Carson went straight to regional play.
The 50-70 World Series is in Livermore, Calif., should Carson win the regional tournament.