Carson 10-11 stars lose third straight

GARDNERVILLE - Carson City continued its losing ways in the District 1 10-11-all-star tournament Thursday night.

Carson committed two huge baserunning mistakes in the bottom of the sixth inning and dropped a 5-4 decision to Sparks Centennial at Aspen Park.

The loss dropped Carson to 0-3 in pool play. The locals can still advance, however. Carson faces South Tahoe, also winless, today at 5:30 p.m. for the right to move on to the single-elimination portion of the tournament which starts Saturday.

"We made several baserunning mistakes," Carson manager Cris Holton said. "We also left a lot of guys on. We had quite a few hits, but we just couldn't get them in."

Carson collected 11 hits and left 10 runners on base. It was the baserunning miscues which were the most costly of the mistakes and cost Carson a chance to win or tie.

Carson trailed 5-2 entering the bottom of the sixth.

Kyle Kunz walked and moved to second when Damon Kitson singled. Moments later Kunz was thrown out trying to seal third for the first out of the inning.

"We have a play where we fake steal (from first)," Holton said. "Somehow it was misinterpreted. We don't do that from second or third."

Conner Pradere singled Kitson to third and Asa Carter followed with a swinging bunt single to make it 5-3. After Austin Beard struck out Ryan Pope for the second out, setting the stage for Conner Leahy. The Carson catcher singled to left-centerfield to score Pradere to make it 5-4. Leahy, however, rounded the bag too far and was thrown out to end the game.

The miscues on the basepaths also wiped out a solid pitching performance by P.J. White, who scattered eight hits and fanned five.

"He pitched really well," Holton said of White. "He went to his max in terms of pitches."

Carson actually started the game on a high note, scoring twice in the first.

Pradere, Pope and Leahy all singled. A wild pitch scored Pradere and John Holton drove in Pope with an infield out.

Sparks took the lead with one in the third and two in the fourth. Ian Check tied the game with a single and Beard's bases-loaded walk snapped a 2-all tie.

Sparks made it 5-2 in the sixth with two more runs. That set the stage for the sixth when Carson let the game slip from its grasp.