South Reno drops Carson 15s

South Reno drops Carson 15s

BY DARRELL MOODY

Appeal Sports Writer

There would be no 7-2 comeback this time.

Carson played six strong innings, but gave up five runs in the sixth and dropped a 7-2 decision to South Reno in a winner's bracket game in the 15-year-old Nevada State Babe Ruth Tournament at Governor's Field Sunday night.

The loss sends Carson to the loser's bracket. The locals will host Elko, a 2-0 winner over Fallon, tonight at 8.

Carson manager Trent Osmer thinks his pitching staff is deep enough to get back to the championship game.

"I've taken teams from the loser's bracket to the finals before," Osmer said. "We want another shot at them. I still think we're the two top teams here. Heart is a big thing. This group has a lot of heart."

Osmer is counting on ace Cody Barr on the mound. Barr is coming back on short rest, but Osmer said that Barr will be up to the task. Barr gave up two unearned runs against North Valleys on Saturday.

"He wants the ball back," Osmer said. "He would have come back and pitched tonight if he'd been eligible. I wouldn't throw a kid just because he said he was OK."

Carson took a 2-0 lead against Anthony Rosa, who scattered seven hits to pick up the victory.

With one out, Ty Hutchins pounded a triple to right-center field and scored on Barr's single behind third base. Barr eventually came around to score on Danny Gall's single to center.

South Reno tied the game in the fifth, knocking starter Dom Mariano from the mound in the process.

Spencer Sconza singled and moved to second on a bloop single by Dustin Granada. Colton Simms moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch scored one run and Rosa helped himself with a game-tying sacrifice fly off Hutchins, who came on in relief.

Then came the sixth when South Reno scored five runs on just two hits. Hutchins hit the first two batters he faced, and Josh Agrick moved up both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Hutchins caught Kevin Schulewitch looking at a big curveball for the second out. Mike Gustafson walked to load the bases, Granado singled in one run and Hutchins hit his second batter of the inning, forcing home another run. Raul Gonzalez singled home two runs for a 6-2 lead.

Brett Allen came on in relief. Rosa's groundball was booted allowing the final run of the inning to score.

Osmer said he went with Hutchins because of the way he looked in the final three innings of Saturday's win. Osmer said he was hoping Hutchins could shut the door, and send Carson into the semifinals.

Hutchins, unfortunately, didn't have the command on Sunday that he did the previous night.

The big barrage was more than enough for Rosa, who retired eight of the last nine hitters he faced. He struck out four, walked two and hit a batter to earn the win.

In other games, Elko eliminated Fallon 2-0 and Reno West eliminated North Valleys 10-0. The result of the Sparks-South Tahoe wasn't known at press time.

• Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling (775) 881-1281