Sparks National and Truckee were on a collision course to open the quarterfinals of the Hooligans Little League All-Star tournament Tuesday night at Shadow Mountain Park.

It started out like a battle between good teams should — with Sparks’ Brent Klutzz and Truckee’s Jack Englert entangled in a pitchers’ duel. But that’s not how it ended up as Truckee exploded to a 13-3 win in five innings, advancing on to the semifinals.

The Nationals broke the scoreless tie first but did so without needing a clutch hit. Klutzz and Elijah Lopez led off the top of the second with back-to-back singles.

Despite Sparks not getting another baserunner on, both scored on the same wild pitch when the throw down to third to nab the lead runner rolled all the way to the deep outfield, making it a 2-0 ballgame.

But Truckee answered right back and cut the deficit in half.

Colin Devalington scorched a shot up the middle right over Klutzz’s head. A wild pitch and passed ball moved Devalington up to third and he scored on Cameron Hollabaugh’s infield single.

Gabe Stralla scored the final run for the Nationals in the fourth frame but again Sparks did not need to drive in the run. Two wild pitches after his walk, Stralla was standing on third and he was able to come home when the throw from home again went up the left-field line.

That was as good as it got for Sparks though.

Truckee erupted for 11 runs in the bottom of the fourth but only needed five hits. Truckee tallied three runs on wild pitches and another on an error.

Englert drove in a pair of runs in the big rally with a single. Joey Grovel and Trevor Sorter added RBI singles also. Sorter ended up scoring the game-ending run due to the mercy rule in the fifth.

Sorter’s rocket shot to center field initiated the final rally. Sorter advanced to second when Andrew Elder reached base. Another wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position.

With two outs, Joe Walker came through in the clutch, ripping a shot off Sparks pitcher Jared Cuddy. The ball deflected to second base, and Walker beat out the play to end the game.

Englert went the distance for the win. He just allowed the two second-inning hits. He struck out nine and walked two in the complete-game effort.

On the Renegades side, Sparks National and Sparks Centennial met up in the late game. Details were unavailable by press time.