It took nine innings, but Wednesday’s 3A North League contest between Sparks and Fernley finally got a winner. Unfortunately for fans of Sparks, the result didn’t go their way and Fernley took a 10-9 triumph.

Fernley’s Neil Kendricks got a base hit to right field with two outs left in the ninth. When the ball was misplayed, it allowed the winning run to score. The error was one of eight Sparks committed on the day.

Kendricks was a thorn in the Railroaders side all day. He had four hits in the conference clash.

Leading 6-5, Sparks senior ace Aaron Quilici took over in relief to start the bottom of fourth inning. He took the tough-luck loss in six innings. He gave up five walks and had two strikeouts.

Sparks took the lead early, scoring one in the first inning but Fernley came back in the second to score four runs.

Sparks regained the lead with three runs in the fourth inning to take the 6-5 lead but Fernley tied it up in the bottom of the fourth.

“(It was) pretty intense,” Sparks coach Greg Vasko said. “We came back and tied it up and it was just back and forth, zero, zero, zero.”

Fernley scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth and Sparks countered with three more in the top of the sixth to force the extra innings.

Neither team scored again until Fernley tacked on the winning run.

“It was really windy and we made mistakes and we’ve gotta take of those mistakes,” Vasko said.

Fernley comes to Sparks Saturday for a doubleheader that begins at 10 a.m.

“It’s going to be tight,” Vakso said about the rest of the series. “They’re a good ballteam. We have to play the way we’re capable of playing.”

SOFTBALL

Sparks softball suffered a 15-1 loss in five innings to spoil any chance they had of making the playoffs this year.

Sparks coach Frank Avilla said his team needed to sweep Fernley in the series to make it to playoffs.

Ally Tallman, who is batting over 500 for the season, hit a triple and Jessica Perry drove her in with a liner up the middle in the first inning, accounting for the lone run of the Railroaders.

Avilla said his squad hit the ball well but hit at Fernley instead of open spaces.

“Youthful mistakes,” he said. “It’s been hurting us all year but they learn from it.”

Katie Hippert started on the hill for Sparks and had three strikeouts. She gave up one home run.

“It was a good game until the third inning,” Avilla said.

Sparks trailed by four going into the fourth but Fernley scored 10 runs in the inning.

“These kids are gamers. They’re going to continue to keep trying,” Avilla said. “They were rolling.”

Sparks plays Fernley in a doubleheader Saturday at 10 a.m. It is also Senior Day. Seniors Perry, Roberta Porter, Amanda Vesley and Emily Hanson will be honored in between games for Sparks.

“It’s going to be emotional, not only for them but for me too,” Avilla said. “All the seniors have done a great job.”

Although Sparks is out of the playoffs, Avilla said his team will be ready to play.

“Sparks High School’s future is bright,” he said. “We don’t want anyone to cry for us or feel bad. We’ll be back with a vengeance.”