Last year, Reno West beat Sparks in the same situation, so this victory was a little sweeter, Sparks coach Ed Remillard said.
“I’ve been coaching Babe Ruth now for over 35 years and this is the one of the best games I’ve ever been involved in as far as from the first to last pitch how this game went,” Remillard said.
Sparks (3-0) was the visiting team for the third game in a row, and started things off early, earning a run in the first inning. The second batter of the game, Alex Young sent a bomb into the outfield for a triple, and he scored on a wild pitch for the only run of the game for either squad.
“I didn’t think one run was going to win the game,” Remillard said. “It was good to get a jump on them. Both teams had a few opportunities to open up the game, especially us, but we couldn’t do it.”
The rest of the game was all about the pitching staff for both teams. Things started off as a battle of the lefties, with lefthanders pitching for both squads.
Anthony Calton started things off on the hill for Reno West and pitched four solid innings. In those four innings, he only allowed two hits, both in the first inning. He gave up one run, no walks and struck out seven Sparks batters.
Vinnie Koci pitched the final three innings of the game for Reno West and posted four strikeouts. He gave up one walk, four hits and no runs.
“We faced tougher pitching tonight,” Remillard said. “Their pitchers moved the ball, hit good spots and the umpire had a pretty big zone. I tip my hat to their pitchers.”
Jeff Copple pitched all seven innings for Sparks. He gave up no runs, five hits and only two walks while hitting one batter. He struck out 10, including all three outs in the fifth inning.
“He’s our best pitcher,” Remillard said. “He’s our guy ... and as the game went on he didn’t have a high pitch count and we saved him for this game.”
Sparks had many opportunities to tally a few more runs to take a comfortable lead over Reno but failed to do so.
The top of the fifth frame started off successfully for Sparks, loading up the bases with no outs. Gabe Martin walked, Malcolm Anderson doubled and Josh Briggs reached on a dropped third strike. Copple struck out to get the first out. Trevor Hustad hit a pop up to second for the second out. However, Hustad’s pop up caught Briggs off guard and forced all the runners to advance. Martin was thrown out at home.
Sparks had stellar defense throughout most of the game to compliment Copple’s pitching. Hustad earned a double play by himself in the bottom of the sixth inning by catching a dinger at the shortstop position and tagging second base to double up the unsuspecting runner, Calton.
Sparks had more opportunities in the seventh inning with two hits, but were unable to capitalize.
In the final frame Reno had two runners on with two outs. Sparks intentionally walked Calton to load up the bases for Grant Kukuk, who smashed one into left field. Leonel Abundis sprinted from the third-base line to make the game ending play.
Sparks plays in the championship game Monday at 5 p.m. with Adam Bolingbroke starting on the mound. If the local squad loses, it will play again at 8 p.m. Its opponent will be decided tonight with an 8 p.m. contest.
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