Carson 15s are eliminated

Carson's stay in the Nevada State 15-year-old Babe Ruth Tournament was much shorter than expected.

Cody Barr threw a solid game for the second time in three days, but the offense managed only four hits in a 4-3 setback to Elko in an elimination game Monday night at Governor's Field.

Carson finished the tournament with a 1-2 record. Elko, 2-1, returns to action on Wednesday against Reno West. South Reno and Sparks square off tonight at 8 in a winner's bracket game.

"You are not going to win many games when you only get four hits," Carson manager Trent Osmer said. "These are great kids and they come from great families. We didn't get the hits when we needed them. It's a game of hits and runs, and we didn't get enough of either.

"We have no excuses. They outplayed us today."

Other than the second inning when Carson scored all of its runs on just one hit, the locals had trouble even reaching base. Carson had just five baserunners over the final five innings, as relievers Kevin Montgomery and John Green did a nice job.

Brennan Hogan led Carson with two singles, and Barr and Brooks Hutchins added a single apiece.

For the second straight game, Carson had a lead in the early stages, and for the second straight game it allowed the opponent to come up with a big inning to take the lead.

Elko got on the board first when Barr hit Ben Suyematsu with a pitch after striking out the first two batters. Montgomery followed with a run-scoring double to left.

Carson racked up three second-inning runs off Nick Antonucci on just one hit.

With one out, Hogan singled and stole second. A.J. Kade walked, and both runners advanced on Anthony Torkeo's infield out. Ricky McDonald was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Brett Allen followed with a soft line drive that Montgomery dropped, allowing two runs to score. Antonucci uncorked a wild pitch, allowing McDonald to score Carson's final run of the inning. Allen got around to third, but was stranded when Ty Hutchins rolled out to end the inning.

Elko took the lead for good, scoring three in the fourth off Barr, who was throwing on one day's rest.

Oskar Sandoval laced a one-out single and moved to second on Alex Baker's single. After Antonucci popped to second for the second out, John Green ripped a two-run triple, tying the game at 3. Marty Shanks followed with an infield hit to short, allowing Green to score the go-ahead run.

"He (Barr) got a couple of pitches up," Osmer said. "I thought he pitched well. It wasn't his fault we lost. If you don't hit, you aren't going to win."

Barr scattered nine hits, fanning six, walking one and hitting two batter.

Carson threatened in three of the next four innings, but didn't deliver in the clutch.

In the fourth, Hogan singled, and Antonucci was yanked in favor of Montgomery. Kade popped out to the catcher, Torkeo struck out and Luke Carter fanned to end the inning.

Carson staged another rally in the fifth, putting runners on first and third following back-to-back singles by Brooks Hutchins and Barr. However, Montgomery fanned Dom Mariani to end the inning.

In the seventh, Carson had an opportunity to either tie or win the game.

Ty and Broks Hutchins walked with two outs. Montgomery, with the always dangerous Barr due up, was pulled in favor of Green. Barr flied out to end the game.