Sparks Centennial garnered that honor by capturing a 5-2 triumph in the final pool play affair for both squads.
Last year we did this. We went 4-0 (in pool play),” Sparks Centennial coach Blaine Beard said. “We went in and won on Saturday and we dropped it last year in the semis. It’s good to see that we have most of the same kids back so this year. We have a purpose. We’re going to get back to where we got last year and we’re going to make up for that.”
Sparks Centennial built a 3-0 lead in the top of the first .
“In the first inning, we got hits,” Beard said. “On a sac fly we got two runs home, three runs home right off the bat.”
Cameron Beard had a base hit and Austin Beard doubled to start the game off with a score. Beard scored on the sacrifice fly.
However, after a few Sparks fielding miscues, Reno quickly closed the gap, rallying for two in the bottom of the same frame, trimming the local team’s edge to 3-2.
“What motivated the kids was knowing what was at stake,” Beard said. “I reminded them how close we were last year to accomplishing all of our goals and I reminded them that we’re that close again.”
In the top of the third inning, Sparks made its move. Brandon Koszuth doubled to reach for the local All-Stars. He scored on a bunt by Joey Arterburn. Arterburn scored on a groundout to first by pitcher Matt Denn.
“Matt is a solid starter that we depend on to come in and eat up innings,” Beard said. “He pitched like he’s been pitching all year in our league.”
Denn threw five strikeouts between the third and fourth innings. Four of them were sequential.
Denn pitched five innings for Sparks and Koszuth carried the team in the sixth. In the sixth, Koszuth got the first out on a strikeout and forced the ensuing batters into pop ups that his defense gobbled up. Koszuth only had to face three batters in the final inning for Sparks.
Sparks continues its championship hopes today at 11 a.m. in Gardnerville.
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